No. 1 Hawaii Sweeps BYU Volleyball In 2021 NCAA National Championship

PROVO, Utah – BYU versus Hawaii was the National Championship everyone in the volleyball world was waiting to see for two years. The buildup was a lot more exciting than the actual game. No. 1 Hawaii swept No. 2 BYU in the 2021 NCAA National Championship.

For the third time in five years, #BYU Volleyball is swept in the NCAA National Championship.#BYU falls to Hawaii.

21-25; 19-25; 16-25#GoCougs #BYUMVB pic.twitter.com/1saL9WUfcf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 9, 2021

This is the third time in five years that BYU has reached the National Championship and been swept. BYU has now lost nine consecutive sets in the National Championship round of the NCAA Men’s Volleyball tournament.

Here’s a recap of Hawaii’s dominating performance over BYU.

Set 1: Hawaii 25, BYU Volleyball 21

BYU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but from there it was all Hawaii, despite six service errors from the Rainbow Warriors. The Cougars had success with their size blocking a lot of Hawaii’s shots, but the No. 1 ranked Warriors had a hit % at .400 to BYU’s .227.

. @HawaiiMensVB takes Set 1 over BYU! Final Score 25 – 21.

More volleyball to come! #GoBows pic.twitter.com/1QqgPpx3Hq

— Big West Conference (@BigWestSports) May 9, 2021

BYU took the lead at 19-18 despite some of the struggles, but the key moment of the first set came out of a BYU timeout.

Set 1 goes to @HawaiiMensVB, 25-21.@BYUvolleyball hit % at .227 in the first set.#BYUMVB #GoCougs #BYU

📸: @BYUPhoto pic.twitter.com/K43V5h9dcZ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 9, 2021

All-American Felipe de Brito Ferreria committed an error bumping into the net on a point that would have gone in favor of BYU. Hawaii then pulled away to take home the first set.

Set 2: Hawaii 25, BYU 19

Hawaii tied up the set at 3-3. The point was very close. At first glance, appeared to have gone out, but officials ruled it as in and a point to Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors then followed that up quickly with an ace.

#BYU needs a miracle in Columbus.#Hawaii takes set 2, 25-19.#BYUMVB #GoCougs

📸: @BYUPhoto pic.twitter.com/UW9fMoHkAo

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 9, 2021

Hawaii built up a 17-9 lead before the Cougars then started to make things a little bit more interesting reeling off a three-point run. All-American Gabi Garcia Fernandez was set up beautifully by de Brito for a kill. Hawaii then called their first timeout.

Coming out of the timeout, Hawaii dominated BYU with their serve. National Player of the Year Rado Parapunov reeled off three straight aces leaving BYU rattled and down 23-15. The Warriors closed it out with a 25-19 set victory.

Hawaii takes the lead ✌️ sets to 0 in the National Championship!

Set 2 Final @HawaiiMensVB 25 – 19 BYU #GoBows pic.twitter.com/LTCbtYZTjE

— Big West Conference (@BigWestSports) May 9, 2021

BYU improved their hit % at .345 in this set to Hawaii’s .333. But 10 errors proved too costly for BYU, putting them down in a huge hole in the National Championship.

Set 3: Hawaii 25, BYU 16

The last time BYU and Hawaii met back on March 6th, 2020 in Honolulu, the Rainbow Warriors pulled off a reverse sweep against the Cougars. BYU needs to pull off the same to take home a National Title. Hawaii set the tone in the 3rd set with a service ace to open it up.

Wil Stanley had a pair of nice digs that led to BYU points, but once again the Cougars were rattled by the serves from Hawaii. With their backs against the wall, Shawn Olmstead challenged a ruling on a Gabi Garcia Fernandez hit out of bounds. BYU challenged stating that Hawaii touched it. Officials ruled there was no touch by the Warriors. Hawaii led 17-13 and was ready to close it out with their first national title since 2002.

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙞 pic.twitter.com/ZwcxiPlQtm

— Hawaii Men’s Volleyball (@HawaiiMensVB) May 9, 2021

Hawaii then challenged a point that was ruled out on the Warriors. The ruling was a microcosm of the night for BYU. After review Zach Eschenberg hit the net, reversing the point in favor of Hawaii. Leaving BYU behind at 21-15.

The serving of Hawaii continued to fluster BYU and the Rainbow Warriors closed it out with their first National Championship since 2002. A shocking performance from BYU, who many felt were built to win the National Title this year.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.