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HONOLULU—The No. 17 University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (13-5, 6-1 Big West) held off UC Irvine (7-14, 2-5 BWC) in four sets, 25-14, 25-21, 24-26, 25-18 to kick off UH's Homecoming weekend at the Stan Sheriff Center. Nikki Taylor pounded a match-high 20 kills and in the process passed Karrie Trieschman to claim sole possession of 13th place on the UH career-kills record list. Annie Mitchem led UH with five blocks and Kalei Greeley had a team-high 10 digs on Friday night with an attendance of 7,199.
 
Taylor came into the game with 1,230 kills and needed just two to tie Trieschman, who was a two-time first team All-American who played from 1987-90. Taylor notched three kills in the first set to become the sole No. 13 in the record book. She also added eight digs, two blocks and an assist in the match. It marked the sixth time this season and the second-straight match that Taylor has reached the 20-kill mark.
 
Mitchem spent time both in the middle and on the leftside. She notched nine kills and hit .444 for the match with just one hitting error in 34 attacks. Mitchem recorded five blocks—three of which came in a row with back-to-back solo blocks and a double block with Kirsten Sibley in the fourth set to help propel the 'Bows to the win.
 
Greeley notched her third double-digit dig game of the season. She also played some stints in the front row this match and added two assists, a block and a kill.
 
Iosia recorded a career-high six kills and hit a perfect 1.000 for the match. She distributed 38 assists and added six digs.
 
The Rainbow Wahine pulled away in the first set, winning 25-14. The 'Bows capitalized on serving runs by McKenna Granato, Mitchem, and Savanah Kahakai. Emily Maglio paced Hawai'i in the first set putting down five kills on seven swings.
 
In the second set, UH built a 17-12 lead in the middle of the frame. But the Anteaters rallied to score six-straight points to take an 18-17 lead behind the serving of Haley DeSales. Hawai'i however then settled down to win the next seven of 10 points to capture the set, 25-21. Taylor led UH in the frame with six kills.
 
The Anteaters and Rainbow Wahine battled throughout the third set which saw nine ties. Neither team could gain much traction, but Hawai'i held a four point lead three times late in the set—the last time coming at 21-17. UH served for the set twice but could not cash in. UCI then took control late in the frame, scoring the last four points to tie, then overtake, and eventually win the third set, 26-24. UCI got the last two points on UH hitting errors.
 
Hawai'i then jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the fourth set and never looked back, winning what proved to be the final set, 25-18
 
The Rainbow Wahine edged out the Anteaters on the block, 9.0-to-8.0 and out hit UCI, .289-to-.248.
 
For Hawai'i, it marked their 14th-straight conference home win. UH is now 35-0 against the Anteaters.

UC Irvine was led by Victoria Dennis who had 16 kills and Idara Akpakpa recorded 11 kills. Danielle Geiger had a team-high five blocks and Harlee Kekauoha tallied 19 digs while Shelley Anderson had 41 assists. 
 
The Rainbow Wahine with conclude their second Big West homestand as well as Homecoming Week on Sunday against the UC Davis Aggies (9-9, 2-3 BWC). First serve is at 5:00 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center.