Box Score | Box Score (html)

HONOLULU – Emily Hartong led a valiant comeback with a match-high 20 kills, but couldn't rally the No. 5 University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team past UC Santa Barbara in a 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 22-25, 15-12 shocker on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The loss snaps a 77-conference match winning streak dating back to the 2008 season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
 
The 'Bows fall to 15-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big West Conference while UCSB improves to 8-8 and 3-1 in league play.
 
Katey Thompson had 19 kills and 11 blocks to lead the Gauchos who used a 5-1 run in the fifth set to steal the win. Ali Spindt had 12 kills and 17 digs, and Leah Sully had a match-high 22 digs.
 
After a sluggish first two sets, the 'Bows regrouped at the break and nearly pulled out the win. Ashley Kastl was inserted into the lineup for set three, a move that paid dividends for Hawai'i. She belted four kills in the set to lead the 'Bows to the win and a chance to tie the match in the fourth set.
 
The 'Bows jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth set but a kill and a block assist by Ali Barbeau (10 kills) spearheaded a 6-0 Gaucho run. UH had a run of their own in them, a 5-0 spurt capped by block assists from Kastl and Kalei Adolpho (7 kills, 5 digs). They then staved off several UCSB rallies to take the match to a fifth set.
 
Hawai'i looked poised to complete the comeback with leads early in the fifth set, but UCSB had other ideas. Phoebe Grunt's (5 kills) kill broke a 10-10 tie and gave the Gauchos a lead they would not relinquish.

Ali Longo had 18 digs and Nikki Taylor added seven kills and three blocks. Hartong also recorded 11 digs.
 
The 'Bows will play the second of back-to-back matches and look to regroup when they host Cal Poly on Saturday. First serve at the Stan Sheriff Center is set for 7:00 p.m.