Box Score Box Score

LONG BEACH, Calif. - The No. 12 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (27-5) tied a season-high with 21 blocks to sweep the Oregon Ducks (17-12) 30-17, 30-17 and 30-18 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Pyramid Friday.

Hawai`i posted 21 blocks for the second match in a row, led by Kari Gregory, who posted 14 blocks, seven kills and a .700 hitting percentage. Gregory broke the UH record for blocks in a three-game match and the school record for single-match blocks in the rally-scoring era. Jamie Houston had a great match with 15 kills, seven digs and a career-high nine blocks while Juliana Sanders hit .500 with seven kills and four blocks. Jayme Lee had 12 digs and four aces while Sarah Mason had eight kills, eight digs, four blocks and three aces.

After the two teams traded points to start game one, the Rainbow Wahine used a 6-1 run to go ahead 10-6. Oregon cut it back to 13-11 before a huge 11-1 run by Hawai`i pushed UH to a 24-12 advantage. An ace by Houston got it to 28-15 before the Rainbow Wahine eventually took the first game 30-17.

Hawai`i jumped ahead 10-4 to start game two. But the Ducks stormed back with a 5-2 run, getting it to 12-9. UH responded with a nine-point run on the serve of Lee, getting it to 21-9. From there, the Rainbow Wahine put it in cruise control, taking the second game 30-17.

UH used a 10-1 run early in game three to take control 12-4. Oregon would battle with the Rainbow Wahine for the rest of the game, but couldn't overcome the deficit, eventually falling 30-18.

The Rainbow Wahine will now await the winner of the match between Pepperdine and Long Beach State in the NCAA second round tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Pyramid.

-UH-