| Box Score (html)

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – In its first Big West match in nearly 17 years, the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team rallied to top Cal State Northridge in five sets (22-25, 25-16, 17-25, 25-17, 19-17) on Wednesday night at the Matadome. It was the first five-set win of the season for UH who improved to 8-2 overall.

The 'Bows hit just .165 on the evening, but more than made up for it with 32 total blocks. Jade Vorster had a career-high eight blocks with Kalei Adolpho adding seven more.

Jane Croson had 18 kills and Emily Hartong had 16, but neither hit above .200 for the match. Ali Longo had a team-high 12 digs with Croson adding 11 more for her fifth double-double of the season.

Casey Hinger drilled 14 kills for the Matadors (9-4, 0-1) with Cindy Ortiz posting a match-high 27 digs.

Hawai'i trailed in sets twice during the match after dropping the first and third frames. Each time the 'Bows rallied with a dominating win, finally pushing the match to a fifth and deciding set where they snuck out the win. UH staved off two match points before finally capturing the win on its fourth try. The Rainbow Wahine won the first three points of the set but CSUN rallied to tie the score at 6-6. Neither team led by more than a point until a Britney Graff (13 kills) kill put the Matadors ahead 14-12, but the 'Bows rallied to even the score and eventually steal the match.

Before the 'Bows  could even play in the winner-take-all fifth set, they had to win set four as CSUN took a 2-1 lead with a solid 25-17 set three win. UH raced out to a 9-3 lead off a Hartong kill, then extended it to 10 points following a pair of Longo aces and a Croson kill.

Mita Uiato had a match-high 45 assists with Hartong adding nine digs and six blocks to fill up the stat sheet.

UH continues its three-match road trip at UC Riverside. The 'Bows and Highlanders will face off on Friday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. PT (4:00 p.m. HT).

-UH-