Cal Lutheran Sweeps Through Cal Luau Invitational Competition
(1/11/2026)LAIE & HONOLULU, Hawaii — The Cal Lutheran men’s volleyball team made an emphatic statement in their 2026 season opener, sweeping all three matches at the Cal Luau Invitational to return to the mainland with an unblemished 4-0 record and serious momentum.
Head coach Kevin Judd’s Kingsmen didn’t just win during their Hawaiian road trip; they dominated. Cal Lutheran dropped exactly zero sets across three matches, dispatching Westminster (MO), Marymount, and Emmanuel with the kind of efficiency that puts the rest of Division III on notice.
The weekend began Saturday afternoon at BYU Hawaii, where the Kingsmen took care of business against Westminster 25-17, 25-18, 25-20. Just three hours later, they were back on the court facing Marymount, showing no signs of fatigue as they rolled to another straight-set victory, 25-16, 25-21, 25-18.
Sunday morning brought the tournament finale against Emmanuel at McKinley High School in Honolulu, and Cal Lutheran closed things out in style with a 25-15, 25-18, 25-21 triumph to cap the perfect weekend.
The Kingsmen roster features an intriguing blend of experience and youth. Senior outside hitter Aidan Godfrey (Thousand Oaks, via Moorpark College) and senior right side Connor Crawford (San Carlos) provide veteran leadership, while the team boasts significant junior depth with players like 6’7″ middle blocker Matthew Wilcox (Santa Barbara), 6’5″ right side/outside hitter Tyler Linville (Thousand Oaks) and Belmont Abbey transfer Evan Ford.
The sophomore class includes key contributors like 6’4″ setter Gavin Galanski (Santa Maria), outside hitter Ryan Foreman (Rancho Palos Verdes), and outside hitter Brody Erickson (San Diego), who transferred in from Grand Canyon. International flavor comes via sophomore libero/outside hitter Max Chen from Taipei, Taiwan.
Coach Judd, who also serves as women’s assistant coach, has assembled a roster that clearly knows how to finish. Going 12-0 in sets to open a season doesn’t happen by accident; it requires depth, chemistry, and the kind of relentless execution Cal Lutheran displayed across all three Hawaiian matches.
The Kingsmen will look to keep the momentum rolling as they continue their 2026 campaign. On Saturday, the 17th, they face a big test and take on both Vassar and NYU at Santa Cruz. If opening weekend is any indication, opponents better bring their A-game, because this Cal Lutheran squad has been impressive from the first serve.
Cal Lutheran 4-0 (12-0 in sets)