This last week volleyball fans everywhere saw the conclusion of the NCAA 20/21 Division 1 Men’s Volleyball Season as the University of Hawaii swept Brigham Young University in Columbus, OH. The two teams, ranked 1st and 2nd respectively, had only played once against each other since before last year’s season ended due to the pandemic. There BYU swept Hawaii in three and then lost 2-3 in a doubleheader, and the two teams seemed destined to have one of the biggest title fights in NCAA. But where BYU had shown to be the favorite in the final, they proved to be no match for the determination and resolve that Hawaii seniors brought forward.
Despite their loss, the cougars pulled off a fantastic season and have produced a superior graduating class of seniors under Shawn Olmstead’s coaching staff. The Utah Stingers are excited to see where these players’ volleyball careers might take them this next year. For Opposite Gabi Garcia Fernandez, expect to see him return to play with the Puerto Rican national team to compete in the next NORCECA and Pan American Games. Middle Blocker, Felipe Brito, can return as a paid professional in Brazilian SuperLiga and even fight for a spot with the Brazilian National Team in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Then will Setter Wil Stanley continue to follow in the steps of his older brother, 3x Olympian Clayton Stanley, and compete in Greece and Russia or blaze his separate path.
Wherever any of these graduated seniors go this next year, it will be great to see BYU alumni continuing to influence the game wherever they go. Hopefully, the Stingers and other teams in the NVA will bring on one of these great players and help continue their professional volleyball careers here in the United States.
Read more about the championship head-on BYU’s website by following the link below.
https://byucougars.com/story/m-volleyball/1296390/byu-falls-hawaii-2021-ncaa-title-match