Game Notes | H-TV Senior Last Words |

HONOLULU—The No. 14 University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (20-5, 13-1 Big West) returns to host its final regular season homestand this week. Hawai'i, who remains atop the Big West just ahead of Long Beach State, controls their own destiny as they take on third place Cal Poly (17-8, 10-4 BWC) on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m. followed by fourth place UC Santa Barbara (17-10, 8-6 BWC) on "Senior Night" on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:00 p.m. Four Rainbow Wahine seniors will be recognized following the match—Tayler Higgins, Annie Mitchem, Katiana Ponce, and Nikki Taylor. Thursday night is being promoted as "Family Night" (see special offers below) and Saturday is also a "Whiteout" match.
 
Last week's sweeps over UC Irvine and UC Davis extended UH's win streak to a season-high eight matches. The Rainbow Wahine have now won 22-straight sets, and in the last 15 consecutive sets, UH has held their opponents below 20 points. The win over the Aggies was UH's 20^th of the season. It marked the 38^th time in program history and 24^th straight season that the 'Bows have posted at least 20 wins.
 
Last week's two wins also brought head coach Dave Shoji's career record to 1,199-203-1. He is now just one win shy of becoming just the second NCAA DI head women's volleyball coach to accomplish the milestone victory. Only Russ Rose, who reached the 1,200 win mark earlier this season, is the only one ahead of Shoji at 1,208-194.
 
For the first time ever, Hawai'i swept the conference weekly honors this week with Nikki Taylor earning Player of the Week honors, Emily Maglio garnering Defensive Player of the Week recognition and Norene Iosia being voted Freshman of the Week. It is the third time this season that Taylor has earned the honor and the second time for both Maglio and Iosia to receive their accolades. 
 
Taylor averaged 4.50 kills, 1.83 digs, 1.50 blocks and 0.33 service aces per set to spur UH past UC Irvine and UC Davis. Combined for the two matches, she recorded a team-high .440 hitting percentage with 27 kills and just five errors in 50. Against the Anteaters, Taylor was extremely efficient, swinging at a season-high .733 clip with 11 kills and no errors in 15 attempts and finished with seven block assists to average 2.33 blocks per set. Against the Aggies, Taylor pounded 16 kills and hit .314 overall with five errors in 35 swings. She also contributed three assists, two digs and two blocks. Taylor had a service ace in each match this week.
 
Taylor continues to lead the Big West with 4.53 kills per set (NCAA - No. 15), 0.60 service aces per set (NCAA - No. 5) and 5.76 points per set (NCAA - No. 5). Overall, Taylor is averaging career-highs in kills per set, service aces per set, digs per set (2.33) and blocks per set (1.21).  During the UCI match, she became just the 12th player in Rainbow Wahine history to reach the 1,300 career kill mark. She currently has 1,317 kills.
 
Maglio tallied at team-high 12 blocks combined and averaged 2.00 blocks per set in UH's road wins at UC Irvine and UC Davis. Maglio tied her career high with nine blocks against the Anteaters. She notched one block in the first set, and then went on a blocking barrage with four apiece in the second and third frames. Maglio collected three more blocks versus the Aggies, including a solo stuff. She also provided offense with 12 kills on .435 hitting, committing just two errors in 23 attempts.  Maglio also had three digs in each match.
 
Maglio, like Taylor, is averaging career-highs across the board with 2.38 kill per set, 0.59 digs per set, and 3.15 points per set. She has already recorded career highs with 202 kills and 119 total blocks (12 solo/107 block assists). Overall, Maglio continues to lead the league with a .399 hitting percentage (NCAA - No. 16), total blocks, and blocks per set (NCAA - No. 22).
 
 
Running the offense with precision, Hawai'i's rookie setter Iosia averaged 10.17 assists and 3.83 digs per set while recording a pair of double-doubles last week. She dished out 28 assists and 11 digs against the Anteaters for her first double-double of the weekend. Iosia set her teammates up for success as the squad hit .383 (40-6-89) for the match. Iosia then tallied 33 assists at UC Davis, adding 12 digs for her team-leading 10th double-double.  She also recorded a service ace and a block.  Seven different Rainbow Wahine got into the kill column with Iosia spreading the ball around. UH hit .261 for the contest.
 
Thursday night's match against Cal Poly is "Family Night" in which volleyball fans can bring their families to get 50% off tickets in the upper level sections (K-P, CC-GG). H-Zone is offering 20%-off volleyball related apparel and Sodexo will be running a buy a hot dog and receive a FREE fountain drink promotion for the night.
 
In addition to being  "Senior Night" on Saturday, it is also a Whiteout game so fans are encouraged to wear white that night.
 
Match 26 Information
Who: No. 14 Hawai'i (20-5, 13-1 Big West) vs. Cal Poly (17-8, 10-4 Big West)
When: Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, HI
Promotions: First Insurance is the match sponsor on Thursday and will distribute 500 volleyball-shaped towels and award great prizes throughout the match. Thursday is also "Family Night" at the SSC, so bring your family! Bring your friends and save 50% off of tickets in the upper level sections K-P & CC-GG (Adults - $7.50, Senior Citizens (65 & older) - $5, Student (ages 4 to High School) - $2.50.)  Need a shirt, need a bite to eat?  H-Zone will be offering 20% off of all volleyball related apparel and Sodexo will offer buy a hot dog and receive a free fountain drink. Live-streaming Video: A live video stream will be available at HawaiiAthletics.com.
Radio: ESPN 1420AM will carry both Thursday and Saturday's match. Tiff Wells will be handling the play-by-play for both matches this week.
Audio Webcast: The match can be listened to online at espn1420am.com.
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com's women's volleyball schedule page
Ticket Information: Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, online at HawaiiAthletics.com, or by phone at (808) 944-2697 (BOWS).
Series History: Hawai'i has a 39-4 record against Cal Poly. Earlier this season on the road, UH held off the Mustangs in four set win, 32-34, 27-25, 25-174, 25-20. Last season, UH defeated the Mustangs at home in three sets, 25-20, 25-12, 25-19 (Sept. 26, 2015) in the opening weekend of conference play. UH then swept Cal Poly on the road on Nov. 19, 2015, 25-17, 25-19, 25-18.
  
Match 27 Information
Who: No. 14 Hawai'i (20-5, 13-1 Big West) vs. UC Santa Barbara (17-10, 8-6 Big West)
When: Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, HI
Promotions: The University of Hawaii Federal Credit Union is the match sponsor of Saturday's "Senior Night" contest and will distribute 3,000 team photos and 300 "Go 'Bows" fans. Also, UHFCU will award an iPad Mini at intermission. The contest is a "Whiteout," so be sure to wear your white apparel. UH Kids' Club members are invited onto the court for pre-match festivities on Saturday. Radio: ESPN 1420AM will carry both Thursday and Saturday's match. Tiff Wells will be handling the play-by-play for both matches this week.
Audio Webcast: The match can be listened to online at espn1420am.com.
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com's women's volleyball schedule page
Ticket Information: Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, online at HawaiiAthletics.com, or by phone at (808) 944-2697 (BOWS).
Series Record: UH has a 38-8 record against the Gauchos. UH opened the BWC season at UCSB on Sept. 23. The 'Bows swept the Gauchos, 25-20, 25-14, 25-19. Last season UH defeated the Gauchos at home in three sets, 25-13, 25-14, 25-19 on (Sept. 25, 2015). The 'Bows also swept UCSB in their final match of the regular season, 25-16, 25-21, 25-19 (Nov. 21, 2015).