The team received an at-large bid into the 2026 NCAA championship tournament and earned a spot to host one of the four regionals, May 1–2.

The Rainbow Warriors are seeded No. 2 and received a bye into the regional final on May 2. They will play the winner of the May 1 match between USC and Belmont Abbey. Both matches will be played at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Tickets for 糖心视频‘s regional go on sale Monday, April 27.

This is the first year the national tournament has expanded to 12 teams. The other three teams hosting the regionals are No. 1 UCLA, No. 3 Long Beach State and No. 4 Ball State.

If 糖心视频 Mānoa wins the regional final, they will advance to the final four, May 9–11, at Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA. The Rainbow Warriors last won the national championship in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022.

鈥楤ows fall to Long Beach State in conference title match

This comes after the Rainbow Warriors fell in the Big West Championship to Long Beach State in a thrilling five-set title match 20-25, 27-25, 22-25, 30-28, 15-11, on April 25 at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, California. The top-seeded Rainbow Warriors (27-5) saw five attempts at championship point in the fourth set denied as the Beach (24-4) extended the match to a fifth set. Long Beach State then ran away early and held off the Warriors in the deciding set.

The Rainbow Warriors and the Beach went to five sets for the second time in three meetings this season and Long Beach State emerged with the win in a three-hour battle that featured 44 ties.

糖心视频 opposite Kristian Titriyski led the Warriors and tied his season high with 20 kills in 41 attempts. Louis Sakanoko finished with 17 kills while hitting .353 and Adrien Roure added 15 kills and two aces. Tread Rosenthal distributed 54 assists and also served up two aces to raise his career total to 114 and tie Rado Parapunov for fifth in program history. Ofeck Hazan set a career high with nine blocks, including two solo.

For more, visit the .

Record-breaking kicker Kansei Matsuzawa, affectionately known as “The Tokyo Toe,” signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on April 25.

During his time at 糖心视频, Matsuzawa rewrote the program’s record books. In his stellar 2025 senior season, he made 27 of 29 field goals, setting a new single-season school record and finishing second in the nation in made field goals. He tied a 43-year-old FBS record by making 25 consecutive field goals to start the season.

Overall, Matsuzawa connected on 26 consecutive field goals stretching from the end of 2024 through November 2025, which matched the Mountain West Conference record and shattered the previous 糖心视频 school record of 20 set by Jason Elam in 1989. He leaves 糖心视频 as the most accurate kicker in program history, boasting a career field goal percentage of .867 (39-of-45).

His on-field dominance earned him unprecedented recognition. Matsuzawa became the first consensus All-American in 糖心视频 program history. He was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, a finalist for the Lou Groza Award (joining only Jason Elam in 糖心视频 history), and a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the nation’s top player who began their career as a walk-on.

Matsuzawa’s signing marks the culmination of one of the most incredible stories in college football. A native of the Tokyo area and a former high school soccer player, Matsuzawa did not begin kicking until age 20 after attending an NFL game during a trip to the U.S. Driven to pursue the sport, he taught himself the mechanics of kicking by watching YouTube videos, eventually earning an opportunity at Hocking College in Ohio before joining 糖心视频 as a walk-on prior to the 2023 season.

For more, visit the .

A total of 127 University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, earning academic honors for maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher through the end of the fall 2025 semester.

The Vulcans were honored at a reception at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center Moanahoku Hall. Women鈥檚 volleyball senior Emerson Reinke served as this year鈥檚 scholar-athlete speaker.

Honorees came from a variety of majors and sports, including basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

Read the full list of honorees at .

In the wake of the recent Kona low storms that swept across the state, the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa community rallied together in a show of support鈥攖urning a weekend of men鈥檚 volleyball into a meaningful effort to help those in need.

Over two nights, March 27–28, fans packed the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for Rainbow Warrior volleyball games, with attendance reaching more than 8,000 on both nights. But beyond the excitement on the court, there was a deeper purpose in play.

Partnering with Spectrum Sports, raised awareness for a campus-wide food drive, encouraging fans to donate essential items as the state recovered from recent storms and historic flooding.

“We鈥檙e incredibly proud of how our 糖心视频 M膩noa community showed up, not just to support our team, but to support one another,” 糖心视频 M膩noa Vice Provost for Student Success Katrina-Ann Kap膩 Oliveira said. “In the aftermath of these storms, it鈥檚 moments like this that remind us what it means to be part of something bigger than sports. Seeing our fans, student-athletes and staff come together to give back in such a meaningful way speaks volumes about what it means to be part of this university.”

Nearly 20 volunteers, including student-athletes, university staff, Food Vault student workers and members of the , worked together to collect, sort and weigh donations. By the end of the drive, they gathered 2,984 pounds of food and toiletries.

“It was really inspiring to be part of this. Knowing that these donations are already going directly to students and families who need them makes all the effort worth it,” said Micah Kaonohi-Kaihenui, a 糖心视频 M膩noa student-athlete and volunteer.

The donations were then distributed to maximize impact. Food Vault Hawaiʻi retained 491.5 pounds of toiletries and 1,246.25 pounds of food to support students facing food insecurity on campus. The remaining 1,246.25 pounds of food was directed to the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, extending the reach of the effort to communities across the state.

Even before the final totals were announced, the impact was already being felt. Several tubs of donated goods had made their way onto pantry shelves at Food Vault Hawaiʻi the very next morning, where students quickly began picking up much-needed supplies, highlighting the strength of a community who rallied in the face of devastation.

The No. 13 seed (24–9) saw its 2026 season come to an end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 4 seed Arkansas 97–78 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

Senior guard Dre Bullock led the 鈥楤ows with 21 points and eight rebounds. Senior center Isaac Johnson added 15 points, and junior forward Isaac Finlinson contributed 12.

“It’s an honor to go through this battle with this group who represented our state, our university, athletic department, basketball, the NCAA, the incredible Big West Conference,” Head Coach Eran Ganot said.

The Rainbow Warriors earned the Big West鈥檚 automatic bid after winning the conference championship on March 14 over UC Irvine in Henderson, Nevada, 71–64.

Three players from 糖心视频 Mānoa earned All-Big West conference honors after a standout 2025–26 season. Johnson was named to the All-Big West First Team, while Bullock earned a spot on the Second Team and Hunter Erickson received honorable mention. The trio helped lead 糖心视频 Mānoa to a major turnaround this season. After finishing ninth in the conference a year ago, the Rainbow Warriors posted their third 20-win season in the past four years and entered the Big West Tournament as a No. 2 seed.

“Shout out our fans. They showed up in Portland, they showed up in Vegas, they show up in Hawaiʻi, Cali, wherever we’re going to,” Bullock said. “Our fans are always there supporting us—definitely meant a lot. I mean, didn’t get the job done what we wanted to, but I’m just happy to put on this uniform, play our hearts out there and leave it all out there on the floor.”

Johnson added, “It’s been an amazing experience and we’re just so grateful for every opportunity that we’ve had to represent the state of Hawaiʻi.”

This season marked 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 10 years. In 2016, the Rainbow Warriors upset the Cal Golden Bears in the opening round, marking the program鈥檚 only victory in the NCAA Tournament.

For more on the Rainbow Warriors’ history in the NCAA Tournament, .

The Hawaiʻi House Committee on Higher Education, and Senate Committees on Education and Economic Development and Tourism, advanced bills on February 11 related to proposals to establish a statewide framework for name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation for University of Hawaiʻi student-athletes. The house hearing was held at the 糖心视频 Mānoa campus, and the senate hearing was at the State Capitol.

would create a comprehensive NIL framework for 糖心视频 student-athletes. The measure affirms that student-athletes may earn compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness and requires the university to adopt policies governing institutional NIL agreements, third-party disclosures, athlete education and compliance with federal law and NCAA rules. The bill includes reporting requirements to the Legislature, protections for student-athletes who enter NIL agreements and a sunset date of June 30, 2030, allowing lawmakers to review the law鈥檚 impact.

“In the Mountain West, every single school has committed to an NIL budget,” Elliott said. “Every single school is using NIL as part of its package to retain and recruit student athletes, and the reality is that these conversations are happening in the official visit process as well—so transfer students, high school students. As you try to think about what you are selling to a possible recruit or to a student who’s already here, NIL is one piece of it.”

Elliott added, “But what’s amazing about this place, and I think what all of these student-athletes articulated so well is that is not at all the only thing that matters. We believe as an institution that it is so vital for us to have students who want to stay here, be a part of this community and get their degrees.”

Several coaches and student-athletes also delivered passionate testimony in support of the bill.

“I believe this program is only scratching the surface, and with the right backing, what Hawaiʻi can achieve will be something great—not just on the field, but for the people, the culture, and the future generations who come from places like mine,” said Rainbow Warrior Football player Dean Briski.

“At the University of Hawaiʻi, our athletics department will hold fast to the core values that shaping our student-athletes lives is and will always be the number one goal,” Rainbow Wahine Basketball Head Coach Laura Beeman. “Hawaiʻi has always been different. It is time for the university to lead in the area where college sports can remain a positive and impactful influence on our student athletes and our community.”

Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Head Coach Robyn Ah Mow, a 糖心视频 alumna and three time Olympian, added, “College athletics is different now, and we need to make sure we can continue to be competitive in order to offer the same opportunities that I received to our future generations.”

would establish a 糖心视频-administered NIL endowment fund with an initial corpus of at least $10 million to create a long-term revenue stream for student-athlete compensation. The bill appropriates $5 million in state funds, contingent on a dollar-for-dollar match raised specifically for NIL. It also requires annual reporting to the Legislature on fund balances, revenues and compensation distributions.

focuses on athlete agents. It would prohibit individuals from providing professional representation related to endorsements, marketing, social media branding and other NIL activities unless they are registered as athlete agents in Hawaiʻi and have a valid agency contract. The bill updates state law to clarify definitions, contract requirements and disclosure obligations, aiming to strengthen oversight and consumer protections for student-athletes.

Elliott told the senate committee, “That鈥檚 why we have set our target to be the best we can be at the level that we鈥檙e at. I don鈥檛 think of it as mediocre in athletics. I think of it as being very successful in the Mountain West Conference, the Big West Conference, the teams that we play against. And because of the way college sports is structured, if you do really well at the level that you鈥檙e at, it does give you opportunities to go on and compete at the highest level.”

The hearings took place as 糖心视频 is seeking broader legislative support during the 2026 session to strengthen athletics and support student-athlete success.

The is drawing early national attention heading into the 2026 college football season, with .

In its preliminary outlook released January 22, ESPN projected 糖心视频 as the top-ranked Group of Six conference champion, a designation that would currently earn an automatic berth in the playoff field. The projection places the Rainbow Warriors in the No. 12 spot and among teams from the nation鈥檚 power conferences in the sport鈥檚 most high-profile postseason format.

“This is a nice acknowledgment for our players and the work they鈥檝e put in, but we realize that it鈥檚 just a projection. It doesn鈥檛 change what we have to do day to day,” Head Coach Timmy Chang said. “We know there鈥檚 a lot of work ahead, and everything still has to be earned on the field.”

2025 breakthrough season

The early recognition follows a breakthrough 2025 campaign under Chang. 糖心视频 Mānoa finished 9-4, earned a thrilling Hawaiʻi Bowl victory and posted wins against power-conference opponents, helping elevate the program鈥檚 national profile.

ESPN鈥檚 projection cited the Rainbow Warriors鈥� challenging schedule as a potential advantage in the Group of Six race. 糖心视频 Mānoa is scheduled to face Stanford and Arizona State during the 2026 regular season, matchups that could bolster its postseason résumé against Power Four opponents while competing for a conference title in a reconfigured Mountain West Conference.

The playoff projection envisions 糖心视频 Mānoa opening the postseason on the road against USC, a matchup that would pair the Rainbow Warriors with one of college football鈥檚 most recognizable brands. Final playoff selections remain subject to on-field results, conference championships and committee rankings.

“This kind of early attention brings visibility to our University and reflects the momentum we鈥檙e building,” Athletics Director Matt Elliott said. “We understand there are still countless hours of preparation ahead of the team before a down is played next season, but it speaks to the growing excitement surrounding Hawaiʻi鈥檚 football program and 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics overall.”

The Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to begin spring practice in February. 糖心视频 Mānoa opens the 2026 season on the road at Stanford out of the Atlantic Coast Conference on August 29.

Twenty-five University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa student-athletes were recognized for their academic achievements with 2025 Fall Academic All-Conference honors from the Big West Conference.

The Rainbow Wahine soccer team led the way with 15 honorees, the most among the conference鈥檚 11 women鈥檚 programs. Cross country earned seven honorees, while women鈥檚 volleyball had three.

The awards highlight student-athletes who maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, have completed a full year at 糖心视频 M膩noa and participated in at least half of their team鈥檚 contests.

The Big West honors athletes academically each season, with winter and spring recognitions covering basketball, swimming, golf, track and field, water polo, tennis, men鈥檚 volleyball, softball and baseball.

See the full list of athletes at .

The University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were named Scholar All-America Teams for the fall 2025 semester by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

To qualify, teams were required to hold a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher. The Rainbow Wahine’s 24 student-athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 3.66, while the Rainbow Warriors maintained a cumulative average of 3.00 among 28 student-athletes.

“The academic commitment demonstrated by these teams is exceptional,” said Samantha Barany, executive director of the CSCAA. “These student-athletes continue to set a standard for excellence by succeeding at the highest level both in the pool and in the classroom, and the CSCAA is proud to recognize their dedication and achievement.”

Read more at .

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa junior Anson Cabello gained valuable experience on the world golf stage at the Sony Open in Hawaiʻi, closing his first PGA Tour appearance with a strong second-round performance at Waiʻalae Country Club, January 15 and 16.

The Kahului, Maui native finished the tournament with rounds of 77 and 71 to post an 8-over par total, missing the weekend cut. Cabello earned his spot in the field by winning a local qualifier in November. Cabello’s caddie was fellow teammate Nathan Szpakowicz.

“It was so cool,” Cabello said. “This week didn鈥檛 turn out the way I had hoped, but the whole experience with my caddie, my teammate—that was big. Just being able to experience this kind of event just means the world because there aren鈥檛 that many opportunities for me to do this鈥opefully more in the future.”

Battling back

After a challenging opening round that included seven bogeys, Cabello responded in the second round. After starting with bogeys on holes 1 and 2, he settled in quickly, carding birdies on holes 3, 6, 8 and 9 to turn at 2-under par for the round. Cabello battled on the back nine to finish the day with a 1-over par 71.

“I’m not going to lie, after those first two holes I thought I was going to shoot 80. I mean, to come back and start making solid swings down the stretch, it was big,” Cabello said. “Yesterday, that kind of happened and just couldn’t get anything going. After that start and the way I finished, couldn鈥檛 be more proud of myself.”

Cabello became the seventh Rainbow Warrior to qualify for a PGA Tour event. He followed Blaze Akana, who competed in the tournament in 2023 and 2024.

In his third season with the Rainbow Warriors, Cabello is enjoying his best collegiate campaign to date. During the fall portion of the 2025–26 season, he averaged a team-best 70.33 strokes per round, shooting par or better in eight of nine rounds. His 10-under 203 finish at the Kāʻanapali Classic by OUTRIGGER tied for the second-lowest 54-hole score in program history.

The Rainbow Warriors return to collegiate competition February 5-7 at the Amer Ari Intercollegiate in Waimea, Hawaiʻi.