IRVINE, Calif. – Following a week of facing three ranked opponents, the Concordia men's volleyball team will head across the Pacific to take part of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Warrior Classic.
 
The Eagles open tournament play on Thursday, Jan. 10, taking on conference-foe USC, in a non-conference match-up. Concordia continues play the next day against host No. 4 Hawaii and rounds out the tournament with NJIT on Jan. 12.
 
ABOUT USC
The Trojans opened the 2019 campaign with a 3-1 exhibition victory over the University of Alberta. USC returns four starters and a libero from a team that went 8-20 in 2018, including AVCA All-American Jack Wyett and All-MPSF Freshman team members Sam Lewis and Cole Paxon. Last season, Concordia defeated USC in both conference matches, to earn the first two program victories in the six total meetings.
 
ABOUT HAWAII
The Rainbow Warriors are ranked No. 4 heading into the tournament, following two sweeps over British Columbia in preseason exhibitions. Hawaii finished second in the inaugural Big West season, being the only team to defeat No. 1 Long Beach State and return four All-Americans. The only two times Concordia has faced Hawaii was last season, where the Rainbow Warriors earned consecutive wins over the Eagles in Honolulu.
 
ABOUT NJIT
The Highlanders recently completed two games in the state of Indiana, where they competed against No. 14 Purdue Fort Wayne and played five sets at Ball State. Last season, NJIT went 9-17 and finished tied for fifth in the EIVA. Returning is the reigning EIVA Newcomer of the Year Alvaro Gimeno and All-EIVA Second Team member Piotr Namiotko. This will be the first meeting between Concordia and NJIT.
 
COVERAGE
Live Stats: vs USC | vs Hawaii | vs NJIT
Live Stream: vs Hawaii
Social Media: Twitter (@cuieagles) | Instagram (@cuieagles / @concordiamensvolleyball)

For the full 2019 Concordia men's volleyball schedule click here.