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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team rallied from a two-set hole but fell short to Long Beach State in a five-set thriller on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 27-25, 25-22, 18-25, 17-25, 15-10.
 
Nikki Taylor had a match-high 17 kills for the 'Bows who fall to 16-6 overall and tied for second in the Big West Conference at 8-3. Tai Manu-Olevao and Kalei Greeley each had 12 kills and Tayler Higgins added a team-best 14 digs.
 
The 'Bows dominated at the net, nearly doubling Long Beach State in total blocks (30-16) but were out-dug and out-hit by the 49ers who remain perfect in league play at 10-0 and improve to 20-4 overall. Alex Reid had 16 kills and 14 digs for the Beach and Tyler Jackson poured in a match-high 19 digs.
 
After squandering two set points in the opening set then going down two heading into the break, the 'Bows came alive for two dominant wins in sets three and four. UH scored the first five points of set three then later Sarah Mendoza's service ace extended the lead to 10-4. Long Beach State shaved the lead to one point midway through, but block assists from Taylor and Kalei Adolpho (9 kills, 9 blocks) sparked a 6-0 run and the 'Bows won going away.
 
The 'Bows carried the momentum into set four and broke away midway through. UH went on a 5-1 run off kills from Manu-Olevao and Olivia Magill (7 kills, 7 blocks) to take a 15-11 lead. LBSU kept within striking distance until UH won six of the final seven points of the set.
 
The 'Bows got off to a fast start in the opening set when a pair of Magill kills put UH ahead 6-3. Anete Brinke helped turn the tide, serving up three aces to lift LBSU to a 15-12 lead. The Beach led by four late in the set but the 'Bows caught fire and reeled off six straight to set up a pair of set points. The 'Bows could not covert though and fell 27-25.
 
Hawai'i retakes the court on Saturday in another critical Big West matchup, facing CSUN at 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.