HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (2-5) opened the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge on Thursday night in the Stan Sheriff Center, taking on No. 10 BYU. The Rainbow Wahine fell in a five-set heartbreaker to the Cougars, 25-18, 25-12, 16-25, 15-25, 15-7. The 'Bows got off to a rough start, but battled their way back to for a fifth set before falling to BYU.
 
Fourteen players made an appearance on the court as the coaches were searching for options to combat the Cougars. The 'Bows finally started clicking on all cylinders in the third and fourth sets. Leading the charge was junior outside hitter McKenna Granato who buried a team-high 23 kills. It marked the third time this season that Granato has gotten 20 kills and she also posted her third double-double of the season with 13 digs to go with three blocks and a service ace. Sophomore setter Norene Iosia also tallied a double-double, her fourth of the season with 50 assists and 12 digs. She also added two service aces and a block. Senior middle hitter Emily Maglio led the team with a .429 hitting percentage and five blocks while tying her season-high in kills with 14.
 
Senior libero Savanah Kahakai recorded a match-high 20 digs to break into the Top 10 in UH career digs passing former UH great Lily Kahumoku's mark of 1,104. Kahakai now has 1,109 career digs and she needs just two digs to tie Martina Cincerova (1985-88) for No. 9 with 1,111.
 
Hawai'i started the match strong, but with four early ties and two lead changes. But then the Cougars started rolling and scoring in bunches. Including an eight-point run that Hawai'i couldn't recover from. The Rainbow Wahine lost the frame 25-18.
 
The Cougars rolled to a 2-0 lead in the match after holding the 'Bows to just 12 points in the second set. BYU went on an 11-point run from the 'Bows couldn't come back from. UH lost the set 25-12—the lowest set score since Sept. 5, 2009 against Texas, where they lost two sets 11-25.
 
The Rainbow Wahine however came out of intermission with renewed energy to win, taking the set 25-16 with an 82% sideout percentage. The win was led by Kahakai, who debuted her jump serve which led to a six-point run from the service line including two service aces. Senior outside hitter Kalei Greeley was seen at the serving line for the first time this season and sophomore middle hitter Natasha Burns made her first appearance of the season in this set.
 
Hawai'i wasn't done showing that they can compete with the best of the best, winning the fourth set 25-15 with an 80% sideout percentage while the team hit .500 for the frame to force a fifth and deciding set. Hawai'i led the fourth set from start to finish.
 
The Bows were ready for a fight coming into the fifth set, keeping it close until the fifth point. From there, the Cougars went on scoring runs and never lost momentum. BYU took the set 15-7 and the game 3-2.
 
Leading the Cougars to their win was junior outside hitter Veronica Jones-Perry with a match-high 27 kills with seven digs and three blocks. Senior middle hitter Cosy Burnett led in blocks with a hand in five of the team total 10.5.
 
The Cougars marked the fourth ranked team for the Bows to face this year out of seven matches. The Bows proved to be a battle for BYU, who took them to five sets before conceding the match.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will take on Baylor on Friday, Sept. 8 on the second day of the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge at 7:00 p.m.