HONOLULU  – The  10th-ranked University of Hawai'i beach volleyball team advanced to the finals of the Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic, before falling to No. 2 UCLA, 4-1 Saturday at Queen's Beach. It completed a three-match circuit for UH (2-3) on Saturday, who previously fell to UCLA (5-0) in round-robin action before defeating Stanford (2-2) in the tournament semifinals.
 
UH started the morning with a clash against UCLA to wrap up its round-robin schedule. The Bruins dominated the first two flights of the day to jump out to a 2-0 dual lead. But the Rainbow Wahine came alive in the second round of flights to nearly pull off the upset. 
 
The final three courts were all extended to three sets. Amirah Ali made a splash in her collegiate debut, teaming up with Lea Kruse at the No. 5 Court to take down Marlie Monserez and former BeachBow Pani Napoleon. Brooke Van Sickle and Kaylee Glaugau also made a statement with a win at the top flight over Lexy Denaburg and another former 'Bow in Lea Monkhouse. The Bruins however secured the win in the tightest of fashion at the No. 3 flight as Jadin Whitmarsh and Devon Newberry squeezed past Jaime Santer and Megan Widener 19-21, 21-15, 16-14.
 
In its second match of the day, UH faced Stanford in the tournament semifinals. After falling to the Cardinal, 4-1, in Friday's round-robin action, the 'Bows got their revenge when it counted the most. The No. 2 pair of Kylin Loker and Riley Wagoner and the No. 4 pair of Ilihia Huddleston and Sarah Penner both rebounded strong following a rough morning outing vs. UCLA. Each pair claimed their courts to help UH stake a 2-0 dual lead. After Stanford cut it to 2-1, UH clinched the decisive third point at the No. 3 court where Santer and Widener took down Emmy Sharp and Maya Harvey in three sets.
 
That win set up a final match pitting UCLA and UH for the second time in the the day. Again the Bruins got the best of the 'Bows, winning on four of five courts. UH's lone point came at the No. 5 flight where Anna Maidment and Sofia Russo defeated Tessa Van Winkle/Jessie Smith, 22-20, 15-21, 15-11.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will next hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to Tucson, Ariz., for the Cactus Classic, March 4-5. UH will take on Boise State, Colorado Mesa, Arizona State and host Arizona over the course of the two-day tournament.
 
UCLA 3, Hawai'i 2
1. Van Sickle/Glagau (UH) def. Denaburg/Monkhouse (UCLA) 21-19, 15-21, 15-13
2. Abby Van Winkle/Rileigh Powers (UCLA) def. Kylin Loker/Riley Wagoner (UH) 21-13, 21-14
3. Whitmarsh/Newberry (UCLA) def. Santer/Widener (UH) 19-21, 21-15, 16-14
4. Natalie Myszkowski/Sophie Moore (UCLA) def. Penner/Huddleston (UH) 21-11, 21-7
5. Ali/Kruse (UH) def. Napoleon/Monserez (UCLA) 21-14, 14-21, 15-9
Order of finish: 4,2,3,5,1
 
Semifinal: Hawai'i 3, Stanford 2
1. Maddi Kriz/Xolani Hodel (STAN) def. Van Sickle/Glagau (UH) 19-21, 21-13, 15-11
2. Loker/Wagoner (UH) def. Charlie Ekstrom/Kate Reilly (STAN) 21-19, 21-17
3. Santer/Widener (UH) def. Sharp/Harvey (STAN) 21-17, 17-21, 15-12
4. Penner/Huddleston (UH) def. Maddie Dailey/Camdyn Doucet (STAN) 19-21, 21-12, 15-13
5. Taylor Wilson/Emma Morris (STAN) def. Ali/Kruse (UH) 21-14, 21-9
Order of finish: 2,4,5,3,1
 
Championship: UCLA 4, Hawai'i 1
1. Monkhouse/Denaburg (UCLA) def. Van Sickle/Glagau (UH) 24-22, 21-14
2. A. Van Winkle/Powers (UCLA) def. Loker/Wagoner (UH) 18-21, 21-17, 15-8
3. Newberry/Whitmarsh (UCLA) def. Santer/Widener (UH) 21-15, 21-15
4. Myszkowski/Moore (UCLA) def. Penner/Huddleston (UH) 21-13, 21-14
5. Maidment/Russo (UH) def. Tessa Van Winkle/Jessie Smith (UCLA) 22-20, 15-21, 15-11
Order of finish: 4,2,3,5,1