Box Score Box Score

RENO, Nev. - The No. 12 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine (26-5) defeated the No. 21 New Mexico State Aggies (33-3) 30-27, 30-20, 29-31 and 30-22 in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship match at the Lawlor Events Center Friday, giving UH the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Rainbow Wahine recorded a season-high 21 blocks on the night, led by nine apiece from middles Juliana Sanders and Kari Gregory. Sarah Mason hit .333 with 18 kills, 16 digs and four blocks while Jamie Houston had 16 kills, four aces and three blocks. Kanoe Kamana`o had a great all-around night, putting up 45 assists, six digs, a season-high eight blocks and four kills. Amber Kaufman added seven kills and six blocks while Jayme Lee chimed in with 12 digs.

Hawai`i jumped ahead 4-2 in the first game on a kill by Sanders, only to see a 7-0 NMSU run put the Rainbow Wahine in a 9-4 hole. The Aggies kept their five-point edge at 16-11, only to see a 7-1 UH run give Hawai`i the lead back at 18-17. New Mexico State regained the lead at 23-21 forcing a timeout by Dave Shoji. Out of the timeout, Houston served the Rainbow Wahine on a 6-0 run, including two aces, putting them ahead 27-23. NMSU was able to score three points to get back within a point at 27-26. But UH would score three of the last four points, including the game-winning kill by Mason, to take it 30-27.

New Mexico State came out firing in game two, opening a 8-3 advantage to force a early Shoji timeout. But Hawai`i roared back with a huge 15-5 run to put them out in front, 19-14. The Aggies pulled back within three points at 20-17, only to see UH put up five in a row, taking a 25-17 advantage. The Rainbow Wahine continued to roll, scoring the final four points of the game to take it 30-20.

The Aggies again opened a lead to start the third game, scoring three in a row to go up 5-3. Hawai`i scored four of the next five to take a slight 7-6 edge, only to see NMSU go on a 8-2 run, going ahead 14-9. The Rainbow Wahine responded, scoring six of the next seven to tie it up at 15-15. New Mexico State kept pushing, taking leads of 20-16, 25-20 and 27-22 before UH started their comeback. Hawai`i used a five-point run to tie the game at 28-28. NMSU's Kim Oguh got the team to game point at 29-28 with a kill. But Houston came right back with a kill of her own to tie it at 29. Anna Callis put away a kill to again get the Aggies to game point at 30-29. The Rainbow Wahine again looked to tie it up again, but an untimely backrow blocker call on Kamana`o ended game three with NMSU taking it 31-29.

UH came out firing in game four, taking leads of 8-2, 12-3 and 17-6 early. Three kills in a row by Oguh cut NMSU's deficit to 21-14. The Aggies pulled within 25-19 before Hawai`i made their final push. Two big blocks by Sanders got it to 28-19 before a kill by Mason eventually ended the game 30-22.

The Rainbow Wahine will now return back to the islands, where they will learn their NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday, Nov. 26, on the NCAA Women's Volleyball Selection Show at 3 p.m. (10 a.m. HST) in Indianapolis, Ind. The show will be broadcast live on ESPNews.

All-Tournament Team
Jackie Choi, New Mexico State
Niki Clement, San Jose State
Kari Gregory, Hawai`i
Jamie Houston, Hawai`i (MVP)
Kanoe Kamana`o, Hawai`i
Sarah Mason, Hawai`i
Kim Oguh, New Mexico State
Amber Simpson, New Mexico State

-UH-