HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (2-2, 0-0 Big West) continues their four week homestand hosting the 2018 Outrigger Volleyball Challenge from Sept. 6-9. Coming to Honolulu are former WAC rivals Idaho (4-2, 0-0 Big Sky) and San Diego State (1-5, 0-0 Mountain West) as well as Portland (6-0, 0-0 West Coast).
UH evened its record at 2-2 with a pair of sweeps over Coastal Carolina last weekend. Hawai'is offense was much more efficient this past week, and the numbers showed it. The Rainbow Wahine are ranked No. 2 in the nation in assists per set (14.5 p/set) and No. 6 in the NCAA DI in Kills Per Set (15.00). In the two games last week, senior outside hitter
McKenna Granato continued to lead UH in kills with 29 while averaging 4.83 kills per set and hitting an efficient .349 hitting percentage (29-7-63). Granato led UH in kills in all four of UH's matches thus far. She has buried 54 kills overall while averaging 4.50 kills per set and has has 38 digs, five blocks and two service aces on the year.
Fellow senior outside
Casey Castillo is second on the team with 35 kills (2.92 kills per set). She is hitting .292 overall and has been in on four total blocks. The most versatile player on the UH roster thus far has been junior
Norene Iosia in her setter/outside hitter hybrid role. She is hitting .380 while recording 33 kills (2.75 p/set) while also dishing out 58 assists (4.83 assists per set). Iosia leads UH with four service aces and is second on the team with 39 digs. She has tallied a double-doubles in every match this season.
Sophomore middle hitter
Skyler Williams leads the 'Bows with 10 blocks while senior transfer
Sarah Liva has nine to pace UH. Another senior transfer, Tita Akiu, has started all four matches at libero and has recorded double-digit digs in said four games. She leads the Rainbow Wahine with 52 digs averaging 4.33 per set.
About the Idaho Vandals…
The Idaho Vandals have posted some big stats through six matches. They have already played three five-set matches, one four-set match, with two three-set wins to bookend their schedule thus far. As a team, Idaho is ranked 17
th in the NCAA DI averaging 2.68 blocks per set. Kaela Straw leads the Vandals with 97 kills (3.88 p/set) while Sarah Sharp has 65 kills (2.60 p/set). Also leading the UI are Haylee Mathis - 244 assists (9.76 p/set); Nikki Ball – 33 blocks (1.32 p/set); Alycia Wodke – 116 digs (4.64 p/set).
Record vs. UH: UH holds a 20-0 record against the Vandals. The last match came in both team's 2015 season opener with UH winning in four sets.
About the Portland Pilots…
Portland rolls into Honolulu undefeated with a 6-0 record. Last week, the Pilots hosted a tournament in which they defeated Montana State, Wyoming, and LIU Brooklyn. Leading the UP offense is Reghan Pukis with 82 kills (3.73 p/set). Right behind Pukis is Shayla Hoeft who has already recorded 72 kills (3.27) with a .404 hitting percentage. The Pilots are also led by Carey Williams – 93 digs (4.23 p/set); Katie Barker – 28 blocks (1.27 p/set); and Cali Thompson 280 assists (12.73 p/set) and eight service aces.
Record vs. UH: First meeting.
About the San Diego State Aztecs…
Last week, the Aztecs went 0-3 in a tournament hosted by Arizona. Currently, SDSU is looking to snap a four-match losing streak. It is a homecoming for San Diego State's head coach Deitre Collins-Parker, one of the most decorated players in Rainbow Wahine history. She helped lead the 'Bows to NCAA titles in both 1982 and 1983 while being a three-time AVCA All-American, 1983 College Player of the Year, and the 1983 Broderick Cup winner (top female collegiate athlete).
Record vs. UH: UH holds a 40-3 record against the Aztecs. SDSU last faced UH in the 2015 Outrigger Volleyball Challenge on 9/10/15 with UH winning in three.
Outrigger Volleyball Challenge Schedule
Thursday, September 6, 2018
4:45 p.m. – Portland vs. San Diego State
7:00 p.m. – Hawai'i vs. Idaho
Friday, September 7, 2018
4:45 p.m. – San Diego State vs. Idaho
7:00 p.m. – Hawai'i vs. Portland
Saturday, September 8, 2018
3:00 p.m. – Portland vs. Idaho
Sunday, September 9, 2018
5:00 p.m. – Hawai'i vs. San Diego State
Matches #5-7 Information:
TEAMS: Hawai'i (2-2, 0-0 Big West), Idaho (4-2, 0-0 Big Sky), Portland (6-0, 0-0 West Coast), San Diego State (1-5, 0-0 Mountain West)
WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, HI
PROMOTIONS: Outrigger Hotels and Resorts is the tournament sponsor and will award a 2-Night Stay at the Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger each night of the tournament. Fans can register at the sports marketing table located at Gate A for their chance to win.
TELEVISION: Spectrum Sports will televise all three of UH's matches this week with Kanoa Leahey handling the play-by-play and Chris McLachlin doing the color commentary. The pregame/post-game show will feature Scott Robbs, Lisa Strand-Ma'a and Ryan Tsuji. Fans in Hawai'i can watch on Spectrum channels 16 and 1016 (HD).
STREAMING VIDEO: UH's matches will be streamed live locally to Spectrum customers only. Streaming video of the matches will be available for mainland fans for all home matches. Go to BigWest.tv for video stream.
RADIO: ESPN 1420 am will air both of UH's matches this week with Tiff Wells handling the play-by-play.
AUDIO WEBCAST: Listen live online at www.espn1420am.com or through the "Sideline Hawaii" app
LIVE STATS: Livestats for all of the tournament matches will be available at HawaiiAthlectics.com
TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, online at ETicketHawaii.com, or by phone at (808) 944-2697 (BOWS).
