Box Score Box Score

RENO, Nev. - Kanoe Kamana`o broke the UH career assists record while the No. 8 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (23-6) swept through the Boise State Broncos (8-18) 30-21, 30-22 and 30-26 in the quarterfinals of the Western Atheltic Conference Tournament at the Lawlor Events Center Thursday.

Kamana`o ended the night with six blocks, eight digs and 49 assists, pushing her career assists mark to 4,642, passing Martina Cincerova, who had 4,637. Tara Hittle led with 16 kills, eight digs and a .394 hitting percentage while Victoria Prince had 13 kills and six blocks while hitting .360. Jamie Houston added eight kills and three blocks in just two games. Susie Boogaard led UH with 13 digs while Ashley Watanabe had 11.

After trading points at the start of the first game, UH went on a four-point run to take a 6-2 edge. They later put together a 5-0 run, capped by a block by Kamana`o and Prince, to go up 12-5. Boise State responded with a 4-0 run of their own, cutting it back to 12-9. But the Rainbow Wahine picked it back up, finishing the Broncos off at 30-21. Kamana`o ended the game with 19 assists and four blocks while setting the team to a .475 hitting percentage.

Sarah Mason started the second game, seeing her first action since reinjuring her right ankle at Utah State on Nov. 9. She took advantage of the opportunity, putting away six kills in the game. Hawai`i had a big 8-2 run in the middle of the game that got their lead to 20-12. They kept pushing, eventually taking the game 30-22 on a block by Mason and Prince.

Hawai`i got out to a 11-6 lead after a five-point run early. They continued to lead by five points when Hittle put away a kill that made it 20-15 and gave Kamana`o her 4,637th assist, tying the record. After a BSU kill, Kamana`o again set up Hittle to break the record on a point that got it to 21-16. The Rainbow Wahine took their lead to 28-22 before a Bronco ace capped a 4-0 run that cut it to 28-26. But UH regained their composure, scoring the final two points to take game three 30-26.

Hawai`i will face the tournament's No. 4 seed and host, Nevada, at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Lawlor Events Center in the conference semifinals. Utah State and New Mexico State will play in the other semifinal at 4 p.m.

Match Statistics

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