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FULLERTON, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team survived a scare, turning back Cal State Fullerton in five sets (25-12, 25-15, 26-28, 25-27, 15-12) on Saturday night at Titan Gym.
 
The Rainbow Wahine, who improved to 10-2 and 3-0 in the Big West Conference, saw a two-set lead evaporate before pulling off the win in the deciding fifth set. The Titans drop to 6-9 overall and winless in conference at 0-2.
 
Emily Hartong had a season-high 21 kills for UH, who dominated Fullerton in sets one and two before losing sets three and four in extra-time. Jane Croson posted her seventh double-double of the season with 16 kills and 16 digs, and Ali Longo had a match-high 22 digs.
 
Kayla Neto and Bre Moreland both had 14 kills and 13 digs, and Gabrielle Dewberry posted a team-high 20 digs.
 
The 'Bows had their chances in the third and fourth sets to close out the match. Hawai'i trailed 19-16 in the third set before tying the score and later staving off three set points. Croson buried two kills on Fullerton's first two set points then Hartong did the same on the third, but it wasn't enough as the Titans prevailed 28-26 to send the match to a fourth set.
 
The fourth set was an equally tense one. The 'Bows had to overcome an early 6-0 deficit and then rallied from four down later in the match. In the late stages Croson, Hartong, and Ashley Kastl tied the match with clutch kills, but it were the Titans who won the set.
 
Kastl had nine kills and Kalei Adolpho led UH with six blocks.
 
Hawai'i plays UC Irvine and Long Beach State next week for its conference home openers. The 'Bows play UC Irvine on Sept. 27 and Long Beach State on Sept. 29. Prior to resuming conference play, UH will play an exhibition match against Japanese professional team Toyota Auto Body on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the Stan Sheriff Center.