HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (1-0, 0-0 Big West) opened the 2019 season with a come-from-behind upset over No. 21 San Diego, 25-19, 20-15, 16-25, 25-19, 15-10 on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center to start the 31^st Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic.
 
Three players in their official Rainbow Wahine debuts notched double-digit kills. Junior transfer Jolie Rasmussen put down a match-high 19 kills, while freshman Hanna Hellvig posted 13 and junior transfer Brooke Van Sickle added 12. Rasmussen started the match slowly but finished strong down the stretch. In Set 4, she put down six kills and in Set 5 she came through with three kills to help lead the 'Bows to the win. Overall she hit .390 (19-3-41) while also adding four digs, and three blocks.
 
Hellvig, UH's fifth overall player from Sweden and first since 2003, made a big impression in her opening match at UH. She paced Hawai'i early on and finished with 13 kills with five digs and three blocks.
 
Van Sickle recorded her first double-double as a Rainbow Wahine matching her 12 kills with a team-high 14 digs. She also had a match high six blocks (two solo) and had a service ace to fill her stat line.
 
Senior setter Norene Iosia also posted her first double-double of the season, dishing out 30 assists while tallying a team-high 14 digs (tied with Van Sickle). She also added two service aces. Fellow senior setter Bailey Choy was the other half of UH's setting duo in the 6-2 offense. She had 24 assists, seven digs and two aces.
 
UH edged out USD, 63-to-62 in kills but the 'Bows had their own opening night block part, out-blocking the Toreros, 15.0-to-5.0.
 
It was a lot of new faces on the court for UH as eight of the 11 who played in the match made their debut--including four freshmen--donning the Green and White. Making the start for UH was Van Sickle, Amber Igiede, Riley Wagoner, Iosia, Hellvig, and Rasmussen.
 
The 'Bows got off to a strong start, but it was close early on with 13 ties and four lead changes. But UH pulled away to win, 25-19. Hellvig led UH with five kills while Van Sickle added four with three blocks in the first frame. The set was close until the score was 17-17. Iosia then stepped behind the service line and reeled off five points—including two aces—to give the 'Bows a 22-17 lead from which USD could not recover from.
 
San Diego then came firing back taking the next two sets. The Toreros held off two late UH rallies to take Set 2, 25-20, then ran away capturing Set 3, 25-16 which gave them a 2-1 set lead.
 
But, with their backs against the wall, Hawai'i came out firing and battled back in Set 4. The score was tied once at 2-2 before the Rainbow Wahine hit the gas as they started to extend their lead. Rika Okino, who got her first career start at libero, went on a four point scoring run which gave UH an 11-4 lead. From there, UH cruised to a 25-19 Set 4 win to force a fifth and deciding set.
 
The fifth set was close early, but UH led from the get-go. With a 7-5, junior transfer, Kyra Hanawahine entered the game gave the 'Bows a sparkin her first appearance as a Rainbow Wahine. She came through in the clutch as she served for three crucial points—including an ace and some nice digs--that allowed UH to take a 10-5 lead. Hawai'i's defense then did not allow a lot of balls to drop, making two highlight-reel play-saving efforts. First Rasmussen went into the UH bench to chase down an errant ball that eventually led to a double-block by freshman Tiffany Westerberg and Hellvig, giving UH a 13-5 lead. Later Iosia ran into the scorer's table hard to keep a point alive which ended in a USD hitting error to push UH's lead to 14-9. The match ended on a net violation on the Toreros.
 
Two San Diego hitters led their team with Megan Jacobsen and Thana Fayad both putting down 15 kills apiece. Setter Anna Newsome racked up 43 assists while three players notched double-digit digs with Annie Benbow and Newsome both posting 18 and Camryn Tastad added 10. Jacobsen also led USD with three blocks.
 
It marked the first time under head coach Robyn Ah Mow that UH won their season opener. It also is the first season-opening win since 2015. It was their first win over a ranked opponent since the 'Bows knocked off No. 11 Cal Poly last season.
 
In the first match of the day, No. 13 Washington swept St. John's 25-22, 25-14, 25-17. 

After a year hiatus, the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic tournament returned to action. Last year, the long-running tournament had to be canceled due to the threat of Hurricane Lane.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will take on St. John's on Friday, August 31 at 7:00 pm on the second day of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic