The end of a long season in sports always brings the same familiar refrain: "Everybody's banged up." But for the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team, that phrase takes on a whole new meaning.
Just ask outside hitter Louis Sakanoko, who was named tournament MVP after leading the Warriors to their third national championship in six years on Monday. The very next day, as the team returned to campus, he was first off the bus—carrying the championship trophy with both hands. That's no small feat considering what his coach revealed.
"Broken bones in both hands," Hawaii head coach Charlie Wade said, nodding toward Sakanoko. The injured star added matter-of-factly, "I'm going to see a surgeon next week."
Volleyball players don't get nearly enough credit for their toughness. This Warriors squad had it in spades, and they needed every ounce of it—physically and mentally—to complete their championship run.
Consider the resilience they showed in the national title match. After getting blown out in the first set by Big West rival UC Irvine, the Warriors didn't panic. They simply remembered they'd beaten the Anteaters twice before, shrugged off the 10-point loss, and proceeded to be unstoppable the rest of the way.
The 2026 edition of Hawaii men's volleyball set program records for matches played (35) and wins (30), while also racking up countless arm swings. The stress on a player's wrist, elbow, and shoulder when hitting or serving a volleyball is comparable to what a baseball pitcher experiences.
Charlie Wade emphasizes proper mechanics, but he's also grateful for setter Tread Rosenthal's ability to distribute the ball effectively. The junior All-American and team captain played through hip and knee ailments late in the postseason, and battled back issues early in the year that limited his serving.
The injury list doesn't stop there. Middle blockers Justin Todd and Trevell Jordan missed time with hand and knee injuries at the end of the regular season, with Jordan also dealing with back problems early on. Outside hitter Kristian Titriyski played just 21 matches this year due to an injury carried over from 2025, compounded by a back issue.
Fortunately, the Warriors had Kainoa Wade ready to step in. He excelled early in the season filling in for Titriyski, and continued as a valuable designated server and change-of-pace option at outside hitter.
This championship was built on talent and experience, but depth and toughness were equally crucial.
"They were properly calloused," Charlie Wade said. "We played a strong schedule, and they learned how to overcome adversity."
This was the first UH team to start a season without at least one returning All-American, yet they found a way to add another banner to the rafters. For a team that played through broken bones, aching joints, and countless bumps and bruises, that championship trophy never looked more well-earned.