Box Score Box Score

HONOLULU - The No. 15 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (7-3) swept through the Idaho Vandals (3-7) 30-18, 30-13 and 30-27 in front of a crowd of 6,466 in their Western Athletic Conference opener at the Stan Sheriff Center Friday.

Stephanie Brandt led the Rainbow Wahine, going for five aces, 37 assists, six digs and two blocks. Jamie Houston had 15 kills, 13 digs and two blocks. Juliana Sanders hit .833 with five kills and two blocks in just two games played.

Hawai`i used an early 5-1 run to get ahead 11-8 and never looked back in game one. The Rainbow Wahine got their lead as high as 29-16 before they eventually took the first game 30-18.

Brandt served Hawai`i to a 7-0 lead to start the second game. UH extended the advantage to 14-3, forcing Idaho to call their second timeout of the game early. The difference got as big as 23-6 before the Rainbow Wahine eventually took game two 30-13.

Idaho played better at the start of game three, using a four-point run to go ahead 9-7. Hawai`i finally took back the lead at 15-14 on a solo block by Kari Gregory. The Vandals made a couple runs to stay in the game, including a 4-1 run after falling back 28-23. But it wasn't enough as Houston dropped her 15th kill to end the match with a 30-27 game three win.

Hawai`i will face Boise State tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center at 7 p.m. before heading out on their first road trip of the season.

-UH-