Box Score

HONOLULU – The No. 11 University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (3-2, 2-0 Challenge) swept the Wyoming Cowgirls (0-5, 0-2) 25-15, 25-10 and 25-18 in front of a crowd of 5,551 in The Honolulu Advertiser Volleyball Challenge at the Stan Sheriff Center Friday.

 

Stephanie Ferrell led the way for UH, posting 13 kills, seven digs and three blocks. Aneli Cubi-Otineru hit .462 with eight kills while Kanani Herring hit .400 with seven kills and six digs. Amber Kaufman hit .571 with four kills while Tara Hittle added 12 digs and five kills, all coming in the third set.

 

Hawai`i jumped out to a 6-2 edge to start the first set, with Hittle serving the Rainbow Wahine on a 9-0 run to take their lead to 15-4. Wyoming fought hard, but couldn't get enough of a run going, as UH took the first set 25-15.

 

UH again jumped ahead early in the second set, taking a 7-2 edge after a 5-0 run on Herring's serve. By the time it was over, the Rainbow Wahine took a dominating 25-10 set two victory into the break.

 

After the break, Head Coach Dave Shoji unloaded the bench, starting five new players, while Hittle moved from libero to outside hitter. The Cowgirls started out well, taking a 6-5 lead early on. But UH responded with a 3-0 run to go ahead 8-6, and never relinquished the lead again. Jayme Lee served a five-point run to get it to 14-9, then saw the Rainbow Wahine side out most of the rest of the way, taking the third set 25-18.

 

The challenge continues tomorrow as Minnesota faces Cincinnati at 11 a.m., then turns around to play Wyoming at 1 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH next plays Sunday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m., against Cincinnati to conclude the challenge