LONG BEACH, Calif.  – The  ninth-ranked University of Hawai'i beach volleyball team enjoyed an epic second day of the Big West Challenge with three straight wins at Rosie's Dog Beach. UH swept Sacramento State 5-0 while also taking down rivals and nationally-ranked squads Long Beach State and Cal Poly by identical 3-2 scores. The Rainbow Wahine (15-6) claimed five of six matches during the two-day tournament and have now won 13 of their last 16 matches.
 
UH and No. 15 Long Beach State squared off in the first match of the day and it was a hotly-contest match throughout. The Beach took the first point of the dual, but UH responded with straight set wins on courts 1 and 3 to take a 2-1 advantage. It would come down to the No. 2 and 5 courts, with both of them going the distance. Ultimately it was UH that would earn the third and decisive point at the No. 5 flight. The pair of Riley Wagoner and Lea Kruse rallied from a set down and squeezed past Sophie Major and Christine DeRoos 14-21, 21-19, 18-16. LBSU claimed the final point at the No. 2 court with the match already decided.
 
After its close match versus Long Beach State, the 'Bows enjoyed its most comfortable win of the weekend with a 5-0 sweep of Sacramento State. It was the first meeting between the schools in three years and UH improved to 4-0 all-time against the Hornets with straight set wins on all four courts of action. Sacramento State did not field a pair on the No. 5 court as UH claimed the point via forfeit.
 
UH concluded the tournament with a clash against No. 12 Cal Poly at the same site where the Mustangs got by the 'Bows to claim last year's Big West Tournament. The Mustangs defeated UH five of seven times last season, including in that tournament finale, but UH turned the page with a close 3-2 win on Saturday. The Mustangs took a 2-0 lead  in the dual, but UH closed out with three straight points, including the last two at the top and bottom of the order. Wagoner and Ilihia Huddleston defeated Vanessa Roscoe and Josie Ulrich 21-18, 22-20 at the No. 5 flight to tie the match, while Brooke Van Sickle and Kaylee Glagau clinched the UH win with a 23-21, 21-16 decision over Ella Connor and Tia Miric at the No. 1 flight. It capped a stellar weekend for Glagau and Van Sickle, who went a perfect 6-0 during the tournament. 
 
UH will remain in Southern California for six more matches next week. The 'Bows will face No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 TCU in the Mapes Beach Invitational on Thursday, March 31 on the campus of UCLA. Following that UH will compete in four matches at the UCLA Invitational in Manhattan Beach, April 2-3.
 
 
Hawai'i 3, Long Beach State 2
1. Van Sickle/Glagau (UH) def. Skyler Germann/Alice Pratesi (LBSU) 21-12, 21-17
2. Sydney Stevens/Katie Kennedy (LBSU) def. Sarah Penner/Kylin Loker (UH) 21-19, 24-26, 15-11
3. Anna Maidment/Sofia Russo (UH) def. Jillian Rodriguez/Emily Mattoon (LBSU) 21-16, 21-19
4. Nicci Reinking/Claire Newlander (LBSU) def. Huddleston/Megan Widener (UH) 21-14, 21-11
5. Wagoner/Kruse (UH) def. Sophie Major/Christine DeRoos (LBSU) 14-21, 21-19, 18-16
Order of finish: 4,1,3,5,2
 
Hawai'i 5, Sacramento State 0
1. Van Sickle/Glagau (UH) def. Caitlin Volkmann/Bridgette Smith (SAC) 21-12, 24-22
2. Penner/KLoker (UH) def. Macey Hayden/Kalani Hayes (SAC) 21-7, 21-17
3. Maidment/Russo (UH) def. Ashtin Olin/Tiya Kamba-Griffin (SAC) 21-10, 21-14
4. Jaime Santer/Widener (UH) def. Karlee Soderberg/Caty Cordano (SAC) 21-13, 21-7
5. Amirah Ali/Huddleston (UH) def. No player/No player (SAC), by forfeit
Order of finish: 4,2,3,1
 
Hawai'i 3, Cal Poly 2
1. Van Sickle/Glagau (UH) def. Connor/Miric (CP) 23-21, 21-16
2. Jayelin Lombard/Piper Ferch (CP) def. Penner/Loker (UH) 21-19, 21-17
3. Addison Hermstad/Peyton Dueck (CP) def. Maidment/Russo (UH) 21-18, 21-16
4. Santer/Widener (UH) def. Sam Strah/Piper Naess (CP) 21-18, 21-13
5. Wagoner/Huddleston (UH) def. Roscoe/Ulrich (CP) 21-18, 22-20
Order of finish: 3,2,4,5,1