HONOLULU—The No. 21 University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (19-3, 9-2 Big West) rallied to defeat UC Santa Barbara in a thrilling, five-set marathon match, 25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 25-18, 17-15. The Rainbow Wahine rallied to win the fourth and fifth sets to capture the victory and sweep the series over the Gauchos this year. Freshman outside hitter Hanna Hellvig led UH with a career-high 19 kills while junior libero Rika Okino recorded a match- and career-high 25 digs. Senior setter/outside hitter Norene Iosia was once again key in the win as she posted her 14^th double-double of the season on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Hellvig hit for a .304 hitting percentage with just five errors in 46 attacks. It marked the 17^th time this season that she's had double-digit kills and has been the team's kill leader in 10 of the last 13 matches. Hellvig also added six digs, two assists and a block.
 
Two other Rainbow Wahine added 10 kills apiece—freshman middle blocker Amber Igiede and senior outside hitter McKenna Ross. Igiede led with a match-high nine blocks—including a career-high three solo blocks. Ross also added six digs.
 
For Okino, her career high of 25 digs was 13 more than her previous high of 12. Okino started slow with seven digs through the first three sets, but finished strong. She came through with 18 digs in the last two sets--12 digs in the fourth set alone, and six in the fifth set. She also added four assists on the night. It marked her sixth time with double-digit digs this season. It was the most digs since Tita Akiu had 34 digs against Baylor in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament.
 
Iosia finished the night one kill shy of a triple-double. She tallied a match-high 33 assists, 16 digs, nine kills, and four service aces. Iosia's six-point serving run in the fourth set allowede UH to pull away tp capture Set 4 to force a fifth and deciding set. Her final service ace came at match-point. She now has 58 career double-doubles.  

Both Brooke Van Sickle and Riley Wagoner came in off the bench to help stabilize the 'Bows. Van Sickle came into the match in the third set and started the last three frames while Wagoner entered in the fourth set and started the fifth. Van Sickle ended with five kills, six digs, a block and a service ace. Wagoner, who pounded a kill upon entering the match in Set 4, put down two kills with two digs and she and Igiede ended the fourth set with a double-block.
 
Although Hawai'i recorded its 14th match this year with double-digit blocks, it was the Gauchos who out-blocked the 'Bows, 13.0-to-10.0. UH edged out the Gauchos 67-to-62 in kills; 64-to-55 in assists; and 6-to-2 in service aces. UCSB out-dug UH 86-to-75.
 
Hawai'i led by three early in Set 1, 9-6. But the Gauchos quickly erased their deficit, tying the set at 10-10. From that point, the Rainbow Wahine never looked back as they slowly pulled away to take Set 1, 25-19.
 
The second set saw four lead changes and five ties. The Gauchos led early but the 'Bows were able to finally catch UCSB at 11-11. But from there, UCSB score three-straight points and never trailed again in the set. The Gauchos cruised to a 25-22 win to tie the match at 1-1.
 
In Set 3, after UH rallied to tie the score at 14-14, the Gauchos scored four quick points to take a 18-14 lead from which UH was unable to recover from. UH tried to rally and closed to within one point at 18-17. But UCSB responded by scoring the next five-consecutive points. The Gauchos pulled away to capture Set 3, 25-21 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
UCSB took control early in the fourth set with a 10-6 lead. But the 'Bows would keep fighting, eventually tying the frame at 16-16.  After a UH serving error gave UCSB a brief 17-16 lead, UH went on a 7-to-0 scoring run with six points coming off the serve of Iosia. Hawai'i would pull away, capturing the set at 25-18.
 
The fifth set was a battle until the end with 13 ties and four lead changes in the race to 15 (or 17 in this match). Igiede started the set with a solo block. Fellow freshman Hellvig had six kills in the fifth set alone. Iosia ripped her fourth ace of the game to end the match with UH winning Set 5, 17-15.
 
Hawai'i is now 6-1 in five set matches this year. UH has played four five set matches in their last five home matches, going 4-1 during those games. UC Santa Barbara is now 4-1 in five set matches this year.
 
Hawai'i did not have an answer for reigning Big West Player of the Week, UCSB's Lindsey Ruddins who recorded a match-high 27 kills—the most kills UH has allowed by an opposing player this season. She had 13 kills in the second set alone.  She hit .275 with just five errors in 80 attacks. But Ruddins had 22 kills through the first three set, but had just five kills on 33 attaks in the last two sets. Olivia Lovenberg had a team-high 25 assists, Zoe Fleck notched 24 digs and Rowan Ennis had eight blocks.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will take on league-leader, Cal Poly in what will be a pivotal match on Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.  Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite "BLACK" UH apparel to the match. There will be an autograph session following the match.