Box Score Box Score

LOGAN, Utah - The No. 1 University of Hawai`i (27-0) survived a big scare at Utah State (9-18) 16-30, 26-30, 30-20, 30-21 and 15-12 at the Smith Spectrum Tuesday, coming back from an 0-2 deficit for the second time this season.

Hawai`i had a season-high 24 blocks on the night, including a career-high 11 blocks by Kari Gregory. Teisa Fotu also came up big with 10 blocks, 12 digs and seven kills with a .385. Kanoe Kamana`o had a near triple-double with 49 assists, nine digs and a career-high nine blocks. Victoria Prince also got in on the block party with eight of her own. Alicia Arnott picked it up offensively with 20 kills and 18 digs.

The match was the third one this season that head coach Dave Shoji missed. Shoji flew back to Hawai`i to attend his father's funeral. He will be back with the team for the regular season finale at Utah Wednesday.

The Aggies jumped out early, running off to a 15-9 lead before the media timeout. The Rainbow Wahine made a little run to get within four at 16-12, before Utah State took total control, running it up to 25-12 before spanking UH 30-16. Hawai`i's game one total of 16 points was the lowest single game point total in a game to 30 since the inception of rally scoring in 2001.

Utah State continued to beat on the sluggish Rainbow Wahine at the start of game two, as it was 16-7 before it finally looked like Hawai`i was ready to get into the match. UH reeled off seven of the next eight points to cut the deficit to 17-14. The Rainbow Wahine fought all the way back to tie it at 24 before allowing USU to go on a 6-2 run, taking it 30-26.

UH came out with fire in the third game, as they used a 10-3 run to build an 18-10 lead. The Aggies got used a five-point run to get back in the game at 18-15. But the Rainbow Wahine quickly responded with eight of the next nine points to push UH's lead to 26-16. Hawai`i was then able to just side-out to victory, taking it 30-20.

Game four was when the block party officially began, as Fotu was in on five blocks as UH opened the game 10-3. From there, the Rainbow Wahine never let the Aggies back in, as they racked up 13 blocks in the game en route to a 30-21 victory.

The fifth and decisive game was when Fotu could do no wrong. She ended up with three kills on three swings and two blocks in the game, two of which pushed Hawai`i to an early 5-3 advantage. Utah State scratched their way back in, tying the game at seven. But the Rainbow Wahine ran off four-straight point to go up 11-7, looking to put it away. The Aggies made one final run, cutting the deficit to a point at 13-12, forcing Wade to call his final timeout. But Hawai`i responded quickly, running off the final two points, fittingly ending on an overpass kill by Fotu.

The Rainbow Wahine will close the regular season at No. 19 Utah tomorrow at 7 p.m. Mountain time.

Match Statistics

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