Box Score (html)

HONOLULU – History was made at the Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday night, as head coach Dave Shoji etched his name in the NCAA record books. The No. 9 University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team swept New Mexico State (25-17, 25-23, 25-15) on day one of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic to give Shoji his 1,106^th victory, equaling him with former UCLA coach Andy Banachowski for the most wins in NCAA Division I women's volleyball history.

Emily Hartong owned match-highs in kills (14) and digs (9) for the 'Bows, who improved to 3-1 on the season. New Mexico State (1-3) was led by Bradley Nash and Aleisha Coates who both put down six kills. Coates added a match-high six block assists to help the Aggies to a 9-6 edge in blocks.

The first set saw an early battle between the two sides, but eventually Hawai'i pulled away. A pair of kills by Hartong and two stuffs by Jade Vorster (4 kills, 2 blks) spearheaded a 9-0 run to give the 'Bows a 19-10 lead.

The Aggies hung around early in the second set but UH went on a 7-2 run to push the lead to 15-9. The 'Bows continued to hold a comfortable advantage until NMSU won six of the next seven points to cut the lead to 22-20 and force UH timeout. Coates and Taylor Livoti (2 kills, 8 digs) both had a pair of kills to highlight the run.

NMSU would tie the set but in the end it was the right arm of Tai Manu-Olevao that proved to be the difference down the stretch. She drilled two straight kills to give the 'Bows the 25-23 win and a two-set lead heading into the break. Manu-Olevao finished the match with nine kills and six digs.

The Aggies proved to be little trouble for the 'Bows in the third set, as UH won easily and sealed the sweep.

Kalei Adolpho and Nikki Taylor each posted seven kills, with Adolpho adding a pair of blocks.

The tournament continues Friday when New Mexico State takes on No. 10 UCLA at 5:00 p.m. and the 'Bows face Santa Clara at 7:30 p.m.