Box Score

HONOLULU – The seventh-ranked University of Hawaii women's volleyball team swept No. 9 UCLA 25-23, 25-18, 25-22, to capture the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Invitational championship Sunday night at the Stan Sheriff Center in front of 6,546 fans.

 

UH knocked off UCLA for the first time in its last four tries and now holds a 35-32 all-time lead in the series that dates back 35 years. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 3-0 to open the season, their best start since 2004.

 

The Rainbow Wahine won the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Invitational for the second straight year and have won the invitational four out of the five years its been played.

 

Kanani Danielson was named the Most Outstanding Player, while Aneli Cubi-Otineru and Dani Mafua were named to the all-tournament team.

 

Sunday night, Danielson once again led UH, recording a match-high 16 kills, hitting .414 and adding seven digs.

 

Stephanie Ferrell had a career night, recording 14 kills and eight digs, both career highs. Cubi-Otineru added seven kills and tied a career-high with five aces and Mafua had 41 assists and seven digs.

 

In the first set, the Rainbow Wahine used a late three-point rally to beat the Bruins 25-23, finished off by a Danielson kill. Danielson had eight kills, hit .462 for the set and added four digs. Ferrell had four kills and Cubi-Otineru added three for UH. The Rainbow Wahine led for most of the set, but had to rally from a 23-22 deficit and won the final three points for the victory.

 

UH jumped out to an early lead in the second set and carried that momentum into a 25-18 victory. Ferrell had six kills in the set and added three digs and Danielson added four kills. UH hit .270 as a team and held UCLA to a .118 mark.

 

The Rainbow Wahine fell behind 5-0 to start the third set, but rallied back to earn the sweep. Ferrell and Danielson each had four kills in the set and Amber Kaufman had three kills. The UH defense held UCLA to a .159 hitting percentage.

 

 

On the final day of the invitational, Santa Clara beat Western Michigan 19-25, 25-14, 18-25, 25-17, 15-11, to finish 1-2 after three days. Western Michigan ended the invitational 0-3.

 

Santa Clara was led by Krista Kelley, who recorded a match-high 18 kills and had 11 digs. Lindsy Davigeadono added 13 kills and Katherine Douglas had 11 kills and 11 digs. Western Michigan was led by Jessica Brown and Michelle Moore, who each had 13 kills. Moore added 11 digs and Allyson Doyle had 12 kills in the loss.

 

Aneli Cubi-Otineru, Hawai'i

Dani Mafua, Hawai'i

Amanda Gil, UCLA

Lauren Cook, UCLA

Krista Kelley, Santa Clara

Michelle Moore, Western Michigan

Most Outstanding Player: Kanani Danielson, Hawai'i