HONOLULU – The No. 9 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (17-3, 10-1 WAC) defeated the Fresno State Bulldogs (5-14, 2-8) 25-15, 19-25, 25-14 and 25-12 in front of a crowd of 5,570 at the Stan Sheriff Center Sunday.

 

The Rainbow Wahine hit .454 as a team, the second-highest hitting percentage they have posted this season, with no players hitting below .300. Nickie Thomas led UH, posting seven kills, eight blocks and a .538 hitting percentage. Jamie Houston added a double-double with 12 kills, 11 digs and a .526 hitting percentage while Amber Kaufman hit .556 with 11 kills and three blocks. Aneli Cubi-Otineru added seven kills, nine digs, three blocks and two aces while hitting .412 while Tara Hittle led all players with 16 digs. Dani Mafua set the potent UH attack, posting 50 assists, six digs and two blocks.

 

Hawai`i jumped ahead 8-3 to start the first set. Three-straight Bulldog points cut it back to 11-7, but the Rainbow Wahine never let them any closer. UH caught fire at the end, scoring the final five points to take the first set, 25-15.

 

Fresno State opened the second set taking a 7-3 edge. A three-point UH run cut it back to 10-9. But the Bulldogs kept battling, extending their lead to 16-11 and then 21-13. Hawai`i cut it back to 23-19 before Fresno State closed it out 25-19.

 

Two aces sparked a four-point Fresno State run that got the Bulldogs out to a 6-3 edge. Hawai`i responded with a 4-0 run of their own, taking back the lead at 7-6. Fresno State took back the lead at 9-8, only to see a 10-2 run by the Rainbow Wahine give UH an 18-11 advantage. They continued to roll throughout the set, taking the third 25-14.

 

The Bulldogs opened a 3-1 edge to start the fourth set, only to see a huge 10-1 run by the Rainbow Wahine give Hawai`i an 11-4 advantage. Fresno State kept fighting, but were never really able to cut into the deficit as Stephanie Ferrell ended the match, posting the final three kills to give UH the 25-12 victory.

 

UH continues its stretch of home matches next week, hosting Nevada, on Friday, Oct. 31, and Utah State, on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Stan Sheriff Center.