DeLAND, Fla. – The No. 5 University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine beach volleyball team surged to a 4-1 victory over the No. 16 Tulane Green Wave to open up their spring break trip to the Sunshine State.
 
Hawai'i reeled off four consecutive straight-set wins over the Green Wave to open up the day before TU's Tea Juric and Jackie Wegner topped Lara Schreiber and Nikki Taylor in the No. 1 position, in UH's lone loss of the day.
 
Thursday's action started with matches at the No. 5 and No. 4 spots. Although it was tough in the early stages, the 'SandBows' pulled away with both wins to start the afternoon off right. First to finish were reigning Big West Conference Pair of the Week, Ari Homayun and Hannah Zalopany, who played in the No. 4 slot and extended their winning streak to four dual sets in dominant fashion.
 
Following suit, veteran pair Ginger Long and Mikayla Tucker swept their counterparts for a decisive win in the No. 5 slot.
 
Up 2-0, the top three pairs took to the courts. At No. 3, Hannah Rooks and Ka'iwi Shucht came out strong in the first set and held off a late comeback in the second set from the Green Wave winning in two sets.
 
At No. 2, the great defense and exceptional blocking of Emily Maglio helped the pair cruise to another straight set victory at the No. 2 slot with partner Katie Spieler.
 
UH will be back in action tomorrow morning in Florida, kicking off the Stetson Beach Invitational at Stetson's Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts. They will take on the hosting No. 9 Stetson Hatters at 10:30 a.m. EDT (4:30 a.m. HT) before taking on the upstart No.17 Florida Atlantic Owls at 1:30 p.m. EDT (7:30 a.m. HT).
 
FINAL: Hawai'i 4, Tulane 1
DeLand, Fla., Cooper Beach Volleyball Courts
1. Tea Juric/Jackie Wegner def. Lara Schreiber/Nikki Taylor (UH); 14-21, 19-21
2. Emily Maglio/Katie Spieler (UH) def. Madeline Mertz/Lan Nguyen; 21-12, 21-16
3. Hannah Rooks/Ka'iwi Schucht (UH) def. Christina McAfee/Miah Diirell; 21-12, 21-18
4. Ari Homayun/Hannah Zalopany (UH) def. Hannah Holmes/Sarah Strasner; 21-14, 21-9
5. Ginger Long/Mikayla Tucker (UH) def. Briana Correa/Anna Chin; 21-18, 21-10