Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The No. 7 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (12-2, 5-0 WAC) concluded its three-match road trip with a sweep of the San Jose State Spartans (6-8, 2-2) 25-17, 25-20 and 25-20 at Spartan Gym Monday.

 

Stephanie Ferrell hit .471 with 10 kills to lead a balanced Hawai`i attack. Amber Kaufman hit .400 with seven kills and five blocks while Nickie Thomas also hit .400 with seven kills. Jamie Houston had nine kills and four digs while Tara Hittle made a rare appearance in the front row, posting eight kills and six digs. Kanani Herring and #Elizabeth Ka`aihue# led the back row effort with 11 and 10 digs, respectively, while Stephanie Brandt set the UH offense with 38 assists, 10 digs, three blocks and three kills on just three attempts.

 

San Jose State opened the match with a quick 5-1 lead in the first set. But Kaufman served UH on a three-point run, cutting it back to 5-4. SJSU kept that one-point cushion until the Rainbow Wahine used another 3-0 run to take their first lead at 12-11. The Spartans answered with three points to get it to 14-12, only to see three-straight UH points give them a 15-14 edge at the media timeout. After giving up a point to the Spartans, Hittle served Hawai`i on a big 5-0 run to take a 20-15 advantage. From there, the Rainbow Wahine never looked back again, taking the first set 25-17.

 

Brandt scored four-straight points, three kills and a block, in the middle of a 6-0 run that put UH ahead 10-4 early in the second set. A 4-1 San Jose State run cut it back to 11-8. The Spartans stayed within striking distance with the deficit ranging between three and five points until a big 3-0 SJSU run got it down to 20-19. Hawai`i had the answer, scoring four-straight points before closing out the second set 25-20.

 

Two blocks and a kill by Hittle put the Rainbow Wahine out to a 4-1 start in the third set. SJSU pulled within a point at 9-8 before a 6-2 Hawai`i run gave UH a 15-10 lead at the media timeout. The Spartans made a couple runs, but it wasn't enough as the Rainbow Wahine

 

Hawai`i will now get a weekend off before hosting Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State on Oct. 10 and 12, respectively, at the Stan Sheriff Center.