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IRVINE, Calif. - Emily Hartong had 29 kills and 16 digs to propel the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team to a five-set victory over UC Irvine on Saturday night at Crawford Court. The 'Bows rallied from a set down for the fifth straight match and remain perfect in the Big West Conference at 12-0 and improve to 19-2 overall.

Hartong's performance capped a sensational weekend where she amassed 62 total kills and 31 digs in Hawai'i's two wins. Jade Vorster had 11 kills and Mita Uiato and Ali Longo each added 13 digs.

Marisa Bubica buried 21 kills to lead UCI, who fell to 5-6 in the Big West and 10-15 overall. Aly Squiers had 14 kills and Kristin Winkley had a match-high 28 digs for the Anteaters. 

Hartong had five kills in the final frame, with her second kill of the set giving UH a 4-2 lead. That was followed by a pair of Kaela Goodman (9 kills, 4 blocks) kills forcing an Anteater timeout. UCI rallied to cut the lead to 10-9 but Hartong and Tai Manu-Olevao (8 kills, 7 digs) stemmed the tide with a pair of kills.

UCI grabbed an early set one lead at 10-6, but the 'Bows ran off six straight points midway through the set highlighted by block assists from Kalei Adolpho (4 kills, 5 blocks) and Goodman to take a 20-15 lead. Hartong rocketed a kill down the line to give Hawai'i the opening set win.

The next two sets saw UCI even the match and take the lead. The teams traded points early in the second set but a Squiers kill gave UCI a 12-9 lead. A Hartong attack later in the set was stuffed but she came right back with two kills to cut the lead to 18-16. Adolpho had a block and a kill late in the set but it wasn't enough as the Anteaters prevailed. Set three saw UCI erase an early Hawai'i lead, then run off four straight points late in the set to pace to win. Knotted at 16-16, UCI pushed the lead to 20-16 off three kills from Bubica and Squiers who clinched the win with her 10^th kill of the match.

In a must-win fourth set for the 'Bows, they opened up a 14-10 lead after running off seven of eight points, but UCI rallied to cut the advantage to 16-14 and prevent an easy Rainbow Wahine win. UH responded though, and off of block assists by Manu-Olevao and Kristiana Tuaniga and timely kills by Hartong, they won to force the deciding fifth set.

Hawai'i now returns home and will next take the court against UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, Nov. 1 followed a Saturday, Nov. 3 match versus Cal Poly. Start time for both matches at the Stan Sheriff Center is set for 7:00 p.m.