FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 6 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (22-3, 15-1 WAC) swept the Fresno State Bulldogs (6-17, 3-11) 25-9, 25-16 and 25-17 to close out its conference regular season clinching at least a tie for the championship at the Save Mart Center Monday.

 

Stephanie Ferrell hit .364 with 11 kills to lead Hawai`i. Amber Kaufman hit .750 with six kills and three blocks while Jamie Houston hit .438 with nine kills. Nickie Thomas hit .625 with five kills while Kanani Danielson had six kills and eight digs while hitting .545.

 

Hawai`i opened the match scoring five of the first six points to pick up a quick early lead. Fresno State pulled it back to 6-4 before a huge 12-2 Rainbow Wahine run got it to 18-6. UH never let up, hitting an amazing .667 to the Bulldogs' -.167 during the set, taking it 25-9.

 

The Bulldogs came out more competitive in the second set, holding UH to only a 6-4 advantage early on. But Hawai`i would get its big run, scoring seven of the next eight points to push the lead to 13-5. The Rainbow Wahine got their advantage to 20-8 before Fresno State got on a bit of a run, scoring six of the next eight points to pull it back 22-14. But UH had too much, closing out the second set by the final score of 25-16.

 

The third set started out 4-4 before a 6-0 Hawai`i run put the Rainbow Wahine ahead 10-4. The Bulldogs stayed in it, keeping the score at 17-11 before UH scored six of the next seven points to pull ahead to 23-12. Fresno State scored the next five points to pull it back to 23-17 before Hawai`i was able to close it out with the final two points, 25-17.

 

Hawai`i will now return to the islands for a non-conference match vs. Utah Valley on Saturday, Nov. 15. That match will be preceded by the alumnae match at 5 p.m.