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HONOLULU – Emily Hartong matched a season-high 21 kills, Tai Manu-Olevao had 11 more and the No. 8 University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team beat Cal State Northridge in four sets, 22-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-20 on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The 'Bows improved to 15-2 and remain atop the Big West Conference at 8-0.

Manu-Olevao had a break-out performance in just her third collegiate match. Struggling in her first two outings, she was second on the team tonight in kills and recorded a .273 attack percentage on 22 swings. Jade Vorster posted 10 kills and five blocks, Ali Longo had 17 digs, and Hartong added four blocks.

Cindy Ortiz posted a match-high 31 digs for Cal State Northridge, who fell to 4-4 in the Big West and 13-7 overall. The Matadors dominated the 'Bows at the net with an 18-10 blocks advantage. Sam Paul had a match-high eight block assists.

UH dropped the first set and trailed midway through set two before righting the ship and getting the win. The Matadors grabbed control early in the first set, as a pair of kills by Mahina Haina (7 kills, 3 blocks) helped give her team an 11-6 lead. CSUN kept the advantage and looked to be on the way to a 1-0 set lead before the 'Bows came roaring back. CSUN led 22-16 after another Haina kill but gritty defense by the 'Bows pulled them to within one point at 23-22. The Matadors had the last say though as Hartong hit into a double block to end the set.

The 'Bows evened the score with a 25-18 second set win. A Hartong kill gave UH a 10-7 lead but the Matadors scored six of the next seven points. But after block assists by Vorster and Ashley Kastl (6 kills, 7 digs) and a Manu-Olevao kill, the 'Bows held a 16-14 lead and began to distance themselves from CSUN. A 7-0 run put them ahead 22-15 as they evened the match heading to the break.

Set three was close until the 'Bows pulled away midway through. Hartong had a pair of kills and a block to give her team a 20-16 lead and, off a pair of late kills by Kalei Adolpho (5 kills, 2 blocks), UH grabbed the win and took control of the match. In the fourth set, Vorster caught fire late as UH sealed the win.

The 'Bows retake the court Thursday, Oct. 18 against UC Davis. First serve at the Stan Sheriff Center is set for 7:00 p.m.