A wave of national recognition greeted the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team upon their arrival in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, as five Rainbow Warriors earned postseason All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
First-team selections included outside hitter Adrien Roure and setter Tread Rosenthal, while opposite Kristian Titriyski was named to the second team. Middle blocker Kurt Nusterer and libero ‘Eleu Choy received honorable mentions.
Hawai‘i (26–5) made the cross-country trek via an overnight flight to Phoenix, then connected to Columbus ahead of Thursday’s NCAA Tournament quarterfinal matchup against Penn State (15–15) at Ohio State’s Covelli Center.
The five honorees tie for the second-most AVCA selections in program history, trailing only the six Rainbow Warriors honored in 2023.
“Great to see the guys get recognized for their performance,” said head coach Charlie Wade in a video distributed by UH. “Super proud of guys like Kurt and ‘Eleu — walk-ons who’ve become some of the best players in the country. Tread, Adrien and Kristian have been dominant since they stepped on the court. Nice to see some recognition.”
Rising Stars Shine
Rosenthal, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, jumped from honorable mention last season to first-team status in 2024. He ranks third nationally in assists per set (10.65) while directing the nation’s fifth-most efficient offense (.343).
“It’s a big honor,” said Rosenthal. “But honestly, it’s more exciting to see the other guys make it. It shows a full team effort.”
Roure, a freshman from Lyon, France, has been a consistent force on the left pin, recording 20 double-digit kill matches in 30 starts. The Big West Tournament MVP was one of just two freshmen named to the 12-player first team.
“I was actually surprised,” said Roure. “I was hoping for second team, but first team — I feel really grateful. Just blessed.”
Injury Update and Veteran Presence
Despite missing the past month due to an ankle injury, Titriyski — a dynamic opposite from Bulgaria — was named a second-teamer. He led the team in kills (4.24), points (5.50), and aces (0.45) per set before his injury. Wade said Titriyski is “day to day” but was a full participant in Friday’s practice before the team departed.
Middle blocker Nusterer, an Indianapolis native, leads UH in blocks per set (1.02) and expects strong support in Columbus from friends and family.
Choy, a product of Farrington High School in Honolulu’s Waialae area, is the team’s defensive anchor, averaging 1.68 digs per set. He is the only Rainbow Warrior to have started all 31 matches this season.
Long Beach State’s Moni Nikolov was named AVCA Newcomer of the Year. The AVCA will announce its remaining national awards — including Player of the Year and Coach of the Year — in the coming days.
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