HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (10-5, 4-0 Big West) returns home after winning their first two road matches of the season at Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside last week. The Rainbow Wahine have a tough slate of matches this week as they take on UC Santa Barbara (3-13, 2-2 Big West) on Friday, Oct. 6 and league leader, Cal Poly (15-2, 5-0 Big West) on Saturday, Oct. 7. Both matches are scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. Saturday's match vs. Cal Poly is also "Dig Pink" night at the Stan Sheriff Center
This past weekend was a tale of two very different matches for UH. Hawai'i swept the Titans in their first road match of the year. In the win, UH recorded a program-record 17 service aces, bettering the old mark set 25 years ago of 16 that was set in the pre-rally scoring era gainst Stanford on Nov. 29, 1982. Leading the ace brigade was
McKenna Granato who recorded a career-high six aces—tying 10 others for the fourth most in a single-match in program history. Hawai'i out-hit the Titans, .494-to-.143 with UH committing just two hitting errors in 40 kills with 77 attacks. UH edged Cal State Fullerton in blocking 3.0-to-2.0. It was UH's lowest blocking total of the season. It was the lowest opponent scoring total since UH defeated Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La., 25-9, 25-9, 25-14 on Oct. 14, 2011.
But after an efficient game on Friday night, UH struggled early, falling behind UC Riverside 0-2 in sets to start the match before making adjustments to right the ship. The Highlanders won the first two frames, 20-25 and 19-25. Hawai'i however then got back on track in the third set and kept the momentum winning the last three sets in reverse sweep fashion, 25-20, 25-19, 15-7. After dishing out 17 aces on Friday night, the 'Bows did not record a single ace at UCR. Granato overcame a rough start hitting for a negative percentage in the first three sets before digging deep to finish the last two sets strong, posting 13 kills with no errors in 21 attacks in the final two sets—including seven kills in 10 swings in the deciding fifth set. Granato continues to lead UH with 221 kills averaging 4.02 per set. She is second on the team with 16 service aces and third with 131 digs. She has also tallied 18 blocks this year.
Middle hitter
Emily Maglio has been the steadiest through the season for the 'Bows. She leads the team and the Big West with 76 total blocks (10 solo) and a 1.33 blocks/set average. She also leads UH and is ranked second in the league with a .395 hitting percentage. She has put down 172 kills thus far and this past week, went over the 600 career-kill mark.
Libero
Savanah Kahakai continues to anchor the backline as she leads UH with 230 digs (4.04 per set). Against UC Riverside, she posted 15 digs and passed former UH All-American Kanoe Kamana'o to be No. 6 all-time for UH in career digs. In four years Kamana'o accumulated 1,220 digs. Kahakai currently has 1,231 career digs and is now just two digs shy of tying former UH-great Kananai Danielson for No. 5 in the record book with 1,233 career digs.
UCSB is better than its 3-13 record indicates. They Gauchos have had to deal with injuries but are on the rise after two early conference wins against UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton. Lindsey Ruddins is their only player in triple digit kills overall. She leads the Big West with a 5.53 kills per set average with 249 total kills. The sophomore has solid numbers across the board with 116 digs and 21 total blocks. Charlie Robinson is second on the team with 98 kills while Nicole Omwanghe leads the team with 41 blocks to go with 82 kills. UCSB libero Emilia Petrachi leads the league with 296 digs and a 5.10 digs per set average.
The Cal Poly Mustangs roll into Hawai'i on a 10-match winning streak with a 15-2 overall record. They lead the Big West with a 5-0 record. The Mustangs are led by a double-dose of Van Windens—Torrey and Adlee. Torrey Van Winden is a sophomore transfer from UCLA who leads Cal Poly with 253 total kills and a 4.69 average. She is second on the team with 31 blocks, 136 digs, and 16 service aces. Adlee Van Winden has 206 kills and a 3.81 average. She leads Cal Poly with 19 service aces and 236.5 points. She has 132 digs and 17 blocks. Taylor Nelson has impressed as the Mustangs' setter, with 660 assists thus far. She also has 49 kills, 10 service aces, 122 digs and 23 blocks.
Match 16 Information
WHO: Hawai'i (10-5, 4-0 Big West) vs. UC Santa Barbara (3-13, 2-2 Big West)
WHEN: Friday, October 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center - Honolulu, HI (10,300)
Promotions: Hawaiian Telcom is the sponsor on Friday and will distribute 2,000 draw string bags along with a $100 gift card at intermission. Fans can register to participate at the sports marketing table located at Gate A.
TELEVISION: Spectrum Sports will televise both of UH's matches this week with Kanoa Leahey handling the play-by-play and Chris McLachlin doing the color commentating for all three matches. Scott Robbs, Lisa Strand Ma'a and Ryan Kalei Tsuji will be the on-air talent for the pre- and post-game shows. Fans in Hawai'i can watch on Spectrum OC16 channels 12 and 1012 (HD).
STREAMING VIDEO: UH's matches will be streamed live for mainland fans only. Go to HawaiiAthletics.com women's volleyball schedule for links.
RADIO: ESPN 1420 am will air Friday's match with Tiff Wells handling the broadcasts.
AUDIO WEBCAST: www.espn1420am.com
LIVE STATS: Livestats for all of this week's matches will be available at HawaiiAthlectics.com
TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, online at HawaiiAthletics.com, or by phone at (808) 944-2697 (BOWS).
SERIES HISTORY: UH holds a 38-8 all-time record against the Gauchos. Last year the 'Bows swept UCSB, with UH winning on the road 25-20, 25-14, 25-19 to open the Big West season on the road. UH then defeated UCSB in their final regular season match last year, 21-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-10.
Match 17 Information
WHO: Hawai'i (10-5, 4-0 Big West) vs. Cal Poly (15-2, 5-0 Big West)
WHEN: Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center - Honolulu, HI (10,300)
PROMOTIONS: Hawaii Pacific Health is the sponsor of Saturday's special
"Dig Pink" match and will distribute 300 healthier trucker hats. The Rainbow Wahine volleyball team will be wearing special pink Under Armour uniforms for the match and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness as well. H-Zone will be selling pink apparel for the match. Following the match on Saturday, stick around for an autograph session at Gate B.
TELEVISION: Spectrum Sports will televise both of UH's matches this week with Kanoa Leahey handling the play-by-play and Chris McLachlin doing the color commentating for all three matches. Scott Robbs, Lisa Strand Ma'a and Ryan Kalei Tsuji will be the on-air talent for the pre- and post-game shows. Fans in Hawai'i can watch on Spectrum OC16 channels 12 and 1012 (HD).
STREAMING VIDEO: UH's matches will be streamed live for mainland fans only. Go to HawaiiAthletics.com women's volleyball schedule for links.
RADIO: ESPN 1420 am will air Friday's match with Tiff Wells handling the broadcasts.
AUDIO WEBCAST: www.espn1420am.com
LIVE STATS: Livestats for all of this week's matches will be available at HawaiiAthlectics.com
TICKETS: 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 is 39-4 all-time against Cal Poly. Last year, UH defeated the Mustangs on 9/24/16 on the road in a hard-fought battle, 32-34, 25-27-25, 25-17, 25-20. At home, UH defeated Cal Poly on 11/17/16, 25-11, 26-24, 25-15.
