Hawaii men’s volleyball hitter Thiim announces he will enter transfer portal

Hawaii hitter Keoni Thiim announced on social media Monday that he is entering the transfer portal prior to his final year of college men’s volleyball.

Thiim, a 6-foot Kalani High graduate who got to UH through Santa Barbara Community College, worked his way into a starting job once Spyros Chakas got injured midway through the 2024 season.

“Hi everyone. This is my official announcement that I will be entering the transfer portal today,” Thiim wrote in his Instagram story. “God has blessed me with this opportunity and of course I will inform people of my reasons behind the matter. Until then God bless you all.”

To partially offset a significant size disadvantage at the net, Thiim had explosive leaping and serving ability to match his energetic post-point outbursts.

Thiim topped out at 20 kills in a five-set loss at Long Beach State on March 16. He hit .303 for the season with 40 service aces. He was sixth on the team in points per set at 2.11.

He recorded 11 kills and eight digs in UH’s season-ending loss to UC Irvine in the Big West semifinals at the Stan Sheriff Center.

“Hell of a ride brother. Go be great. All love to you and your ohana,” wrote middle Kurt Nusterer, Thiim’s good friend and training partner the last two years, in his own Instagram post.

Thiim was primarily a serving specialist when UH won the NCAA championship in 2022 and filled that role again when the Rainbow Warriors got back to the national championship match in 2023.

UH is projected to have a strong incoming class of recruits. It has so far signed five players to its 2025 signing class, including 6-foot-5 hitter/opposite Finn Kearney, a member of the U.S. U19 national team, as well as 6-5 opposite Adrien Roure of France and 6-8 opposite Kristian Titriski of Bulgaria.

3 UH players earn AVCA All-America honors

For the first time in eight years, the Hawaii men’s volleyball team did not place a player on the AVCA All-America first team.

However, three UH players were still honored as senior middle Guilherme Voss made the AVCA second team, and setter Tread Rosenthal and opposite Alaka‘i Todd were named honorable mentions.

It was Voss’ third career All-America honor; he made the AVCA first team in 2023 and second team in 2022.

Todd was a UH reserve until this season and Rosenthal was a true freshman.

The last time the Rainbow Warriors did not have a first-teamer was in 2016.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.