Match Notes

HONOLULU—The No. 8 University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (14-1, 4-0 Big West) returns home and will put their nine-match win streak on the line in their final, six-match homestand of the season. The Rainbow Wahine will host a pair of Homecoming matches against CSUN (4-12, Big West 3-1) and Long Beach State (13-4, 3-1 Big West). The Rainbow Wahine will take on CSUN on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. then take on defending Big West champions, Long Beach State on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
 
Hawai'i rose to No. 8 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll this week. It is the first time since Week 8 of the 2013 season that UH has been ranked that high. It is the 356th week in AVCA history that UH has been ranked in the Top 10. That is the third-most in AVCA history behind just Stanford (428) and Nebraska (425). The 'Bows have swept their last five opponents and have won their last 13-straight sets.
 
After notching 12.0 blocks against both Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside last week, UH ascended to No. 1 in the NCAA averaging 3.27 blocks per set. Nationally, Hawai'i is also ranked No. 9 with a .292 hitting percentage. In the Big West, UH is ranked No. 1 with 1.58 aces per set; 13.16 assists per set; 14.38 kills per set; .143 opponents' hitting percentage, and 170.0 total blocks. The Rainbow Wahine leads the conference in six of seven statistical categories, including hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, assists, kills, blocks and service aces.
 
Individually, junior opposite Nikki Taylor continues her stellar play for the Rainbow Wahine. She is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA averaging 5.79 points (kills + blocks + aces) per set. She is also ranked No. 10 in the nation with 0.52 aces per set and No. 11 with 4.58 kills per set. Taylor has recorded double-digit kills in 14 of 15 matches. She also leads the Big West with 0.52 service aces per set.
 
Senior middle hitter Olivia Magill is ranked No. 9 in the NCAA and tops in the Big West averaging 1.51 blocks per set and a .402 hitting percentage. Magill has anchored the team in the middle, proving to be a force both offensively and defensively at the net. Last week at Cal State Fullerton, she hit a season-high .700 hitting percentage, notching eight kills with just one error in 10 attacks.
 
Fellow middle hitter Emily Maglio has emerged in the last few games as another power for the 'Bows. In conference matches, the sophomore leads the league with a .575 hitting percentage and 1.73 blocks per set. On last week's roadtrip, Maglio hit a career-high .714 at Cal State Fullerton, burying six kills with an error on seven swings. She also put down a career-high seven blocks at UC Riverside.

The injury bug bit the 'Bows last week on their first roadtrip of the season. Junior setter Tayler Higgins missed her first match at UC Riverside after starting the last 43-straight matches for the 'Bows. She is questionable for this week after suffering an injury at Cal State Fullerton. Kalei Greeley also went down during the UC Riverside match, but she has been cleared to practice this week. 
 
 
Match 16 Information 
Who: No. 8 Hawai'i (14-1, 4-0 Big West) vs. CSUN (4-12, 3-1 Big West)
When: Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:00 pm
Where: Honolulu, O'ahu (Stan Sheriff Center)
Promotions: Hawaii Pacific Health is the sponsor of Friday's match and will distribute 1,000 rally towels. Also, there will be an autograph session with the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team following Friday's match. UH Alumni Association members receive 50% off adult tickets to both matches. In addition, the Homecoming Weekend Special ticket package is available for only $35 and includes tickets to both of the women's volleyball matches as well as the football game against San Diego State on Saturday.
Television: OCSports (Oceanic Time Warner Cable Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD) –or- Hawaiian Telcom Channel 89 (SD) and 1089 (HD) will be broadcasting both of Hawai'i matches with Jim Leahey calling the play-by-play and Chris McLachlin providing color commentary.
Streaming Video: Hawai'i's matches are available to watch online at either http://ocsports.tv/ocsports_live -or- BigWest.tv
Radio: ESPN 1420AM will on the airwaves for all of the UH matches live with Tiff Wells handling the play-by-play.
Audio Webcast: Fans can listen to the UH matches online at espn1420am.com.
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Information: Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, online at HawaiiAthletics.com, or by phone at (808) 944-2697.
Series Record: UH and CSUN have played 18 times in history, with the Rainbow Wahine winning 16 of those contests. Last season, the Matadors defeated the 'Bows in Northridge (Oct. 10, 2014) in straight sets, 25-17, 25-20, 25-21. Hawai'i though won the most recent meeting in Honolulu (Nov. 8, 2014) in four sets, 25-16, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18.
 
Match 17 Information 
Who: No. 8 Hawai'i (14-1, 4-0 Big West) vs. Long Beach State (13-4, 3-1 Big West)
When: Sunday, Oct. 11 at 5:00 pm
Where: Honolulu, O'ahu (Stan Sheriff Center)
Promotions: The California Hotel & Casino is the match sponsor on Sunday and will award a Vacations Hawaii trip to Las Vegas during the "Toss Your Way to Vegas" promotion at intermission. UH Alumni Association members receive 50% off adult tickets to both matches. In addition, the Homecoming Weekend Special ticket package is available for only $35 and includes tickets to both of the women's volleyball matches as well as the football game against San Diego State on Saturday.
Television: OCSports (Oceanic Time Warner Cable Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD) –or- Hawaiian Telcom Channel 89 (SD) and 1089 (HD) will be broadcasting both of Hawai'i matches with Jim Leahey calling the play-by-play and Chris McLachlin providing color commentary.
Streaming Video: Hawai'i's matches are available to watch online at either http://ocsports.tv/ocsports_live -or- BigWest.tv
Radio: ESPN 1420AM will on the airwaves for all of the UH matches live with Tiff Wells handling the play-by-play.
Audio Webcast: Fans can listen to the UH matches online at espn1420am.com.
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Information: Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, online at HawaiiAthletics.com, or by phone at (808) 944-2697.
Series Record: Hawai'i has a 28-17 advantage over Long Beach State in their storied rivalry that goes back to the 1980's. But, the 49ers swept UH last year en route to going undefeated in conference play to capture the Big West title in 2014. Both of last year's matches went to five sets. On the road in Long Beach, UH fell 25-15, 22-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-11 on Oct. 11. In Honolulu, LBSU was down two sets before mounting an epic comeback to defeat UH in heartbreaking fashion, 27-25, 25-22. 18-25, 17-25, 15-10 (Nov. 7).