For the second straight season, the match between historical powers Hawai’i and Long Beach State will be broadcast to a national television audience. The match will see a 6 o’clock first serve from Walter Pyramid on Friday, Oct. 17, with the game airing on ESPNU.
The two programs have a combined six NCAA Championships, three each, with Hawai‘i earning the crown in 1982, 1983 and 1987 and Long Beach State on top in 1989, 1993 and 1998.
Long Beach State (19-11, 12-6 BW in 2024) will have 10 newcomers to go along with a pair of redshirt freshman suiting up in 2025. Key returners back for the Beach include senior outside hitter Elise Agi. Agi was a second team All-Big West performer in 2023 before utilizing a redshirt season a year ago. Also hitting the court for LBSU is All-Freshman team setter/opposite hitter Madi Maxwell and sophomore setter Madi Collins. Maxwell was third on the team in kills per set (1.94), tallying 153 kills, 22 aces, 132 digs and 32 blocks in the well-rounded season. Collins assisted on 64 scoring plays, good for third on the team.
Hawai’i (21-10, 13-5 BW in 2024) will also see a bevy of fresh faces as the Rainbow Wahine look to defend their string of five seasons with either a regular-season or championship crown. The departures of three of The Big West’s major award winners creates opportunities for returnees and newcomers slide to step into more prominent roles. Key returners for the team include All-Big West honorable mention outside hitter Tali Hakas, who posted 2.07 kills and 2.91 digs per set last season, and middle blocker Miliana Sylvester (0.73 b/s), a member of the All-Freshman Team. Also suiting up for the ‘’Bows are libero Victoria Leyva (2.00 d/s) and outside hitter Stella Adeyemi (2.08 k/s).
The Rainbow Wahine are riding a streak of 31 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances after earning The Big West Championship crown in 2024 as the No. 2 seed.
Hawai’i has taken the last four from LBSU in the series, with the last win for the Beach coming at Walter Pyramid on Sept. 29, 2023.
Tickets to attend the ESPNU match between UH and LBSU along with all other single-session opportunities to see the Beach go on sale Monday, Aug. 11. More than 125 Big West women’s basketball contests are slated for broadcast and available to fans through ESPN+ with ESPN boasting the most extensive lineup on record in 2025.
Click here for upcoming listings to watch all 11 Big West member-institutions in action.