Box Score Box Score
HONOLULU - The No. 2 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine (18-0, 6-0 Western Athletic Conference) defeated the San Jose State Spartans (10-11, 4-3 WAC) 30-12, 30-22, 30-23 in front of a crowd of 6,372 at the Stan Sheriff Center Thursday.
UH junior Maja Gustin started in her first action since learning that she had a stress fracture in her left foot after the Sept. 2 match against UCLA. She came up big with nine kills, five digs and three blocks while All-American Kim Willoughby sat out the match with a stomach flu. Lily Kahumoku led the way for Hawai`i with 19 kills and six digs while hittuing .471. Karin Lundqvist also played well, knocking in a season-high 10 kills and four blocks, while Lauren Duggins had seven kills, 12 digs and three blocks.
Freshman Susie Boogaard played well in Willoughby's absence, coming up with eight kills and three digs, while Melissa Villaroman (13 digs), Hedder Ilustre (10 digs), and Margaret Vakasausau (10 digs, 27 assists) played well in the back row.
Hawai`i started out the first game hot, jumping out to an 8-1 lead early. The Rainbow Wahine were able to get the lead up to 25-9 before closing out the game 30-12. UH broke the school record for consecutive games won with the win in game one. They have now won 39 straight games, dating back to Sept. 7 of this season.
UH spotted the Spartans two points to start game one before they went on a 7-1 run to force San Jose State coach Craig Choate to call a timeout. Hawai`i extended their lead as high as 24-15 before taking the game 30-22 on the strength of nine kills by Kahumoku.
The Rainbow Wahine again jumped out early in game three, going up 12-6. But the Spartans wouldn't just lay down, tying the game at 17 and keeping it close at 21-20. But Hawai`i used a 6-1 run at that point before ending the match with a 30-23 win in game three.
Hawai`i will face off with the Fresno State Bulldogs tommorow night at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center with the WAC lead on the line. The Bulldogs are off to their best start in school history, coming in with a 18-2 record, 6-1 in the WAC.
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