In a week in which Hawai’i is the new No. 1 in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball, it is also dealing with the loss of its best player.
Senior outside Spryos Chakas is out after injuring his left knee Sunday in a five-set victory over UC Irvine.
In the report, we have more on NCAA men and catch up with the Pro Volleyball Federation, which has a match Thursday when the Atlanta Vibe play at the Omaha Supernovas. They are tied at 7-3 atop the seven-team inaugural-season standings.
Hawai’i loses Chakas
Chakas, a 6-foot-4 Greek who is in his fourth year at Hawai’i, ranks fifth in the NCAA in kills per set (4.15) and this week was named the AVCA national player of the week.
From a story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser:
Chakas was swinging for match point in the fifth set aginst the Anteaters when he fell to the ground clutching at his left knee. He was carried off the court by teammates.
Chakas, a two-time AVCA second-team All-American, was a national player of the year contender.
He was named the AVCA Division I-II National Player of the Week today for the second time this season after helping Hawaii go 3-0 in the Outrigger Invitational.
“He’s been such a big part (of the program) and a level of irony he wins his second national player of the week honor today,” (UH coach Charlie) Wade said. “He’s literally one of the best players in men’s collegiate volleyball. He will be missed. It’s a devastating loss for our program. We’ve got to pick up the pieces and move on.”
We featured Chakas and former teammate Dimitrios Mouchlias in 2023:
Hawai’i (17-1) has won 16 matches in a row and plays back-to-back matches at Long Beach State on Friday and Saturday.
AVCA
TOP 25: After previously unbeaten Grand Canyon lost twice in Hawai’i, the top of the AVCA coaches poll got flipped around.
Hawai’i got 15 of the 23 first-place votes and is up two spots to No. 1. Long Beach State got the other eight votes and stayed No. 2. UCLA moved up a spot to third, and GCU dropped to No. 4. UC Irvine stayed No. 5.
Stanford, now No. 6, and BYU, now No. 7, traded places after they split their matches with each other last week.
Ohio State remained No. 8 and Pepperdine, now ninth, and Penn State, now No. 10, traded places.
No one dropped out. Click here for the complete AVCA National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Poll.
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