Box Score HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (2-5, 0-0 Big West) fell to Southern California in four sets, 25-23, 24-26, 27-25, 25-20 in the opener of the Hawaiian Airlines Volleyball Series on Friday night at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Freshman Caylen Alexander led Hawai'i with her second-straight double-double.
 
Alexander led put down a team-high 13 kills while handcuffing the Trojans with a career-high five service aces. She added 10 digs and a block to fill out her stat line.
 
Two other Rainbow Wahine posted double-digit kills in the match. Riley Wagoner tallied 12 kills with nine digs, a block and a pair of aces, while Amber Igiede added 11 kills and a team-high three blocks. Igiede also hit a match-high .474 hitting percentage in the loss.
 
UH libero Tayli Ikenaga notched her fifth double-digit dig match of 2022, popping up a season- and match-high 18 digs. Setter Kate Lang dished out a match-high 39 assists and had a career-high five kills.
 
But for the 'Bows, it was missed opportunities that once again plagued them. Although UH recorded more kills (54-51), more assists (48-46), and more digs (53-48) than USC, UH's 32 hitting errors (tied season-high) and 10 service errors in conjunction with being out-blocked 12.5-to-5.0 was too much to overcome in the end.
 
After trading points early to start the match, USC scored three-straight to take an 8-5 lead. Hawai'i responded scoring six of the next seven points to overtake the Trojans, 11-9. But after a failed challenge on an in/out call by UH, the Trojans scored four-straight to leapfrog the 'Bows for a 13-11 advantage. USC took a one-point lead into the media timeout and from there scored the next four of five from which UH could not recover from. USC won the set 25-23 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
The second set started with the two teams tying eight times with three lead changes early. After USC took an 8-7 lead the Trojans held the lead until 15-13 when UH went on a four-point scoring run to catch then take a 17-15 lead on back-to-back kills by Braelyn Akana. The 'Bows would lead by as many as three at 20-17 but USC rallied right back to hurdle past UH at 21-20 on five consecutive points. USC would lead by two at 23-21 and later had two set points that UH erased on back-to-back Alexander kills. Igiede's serve at set point tickled the tape and fell in just over the net for an ace as the 'Bows stole Set 2, 26-24.
 
After trailing by as many as four before the media timeout, UH came out on a three-point rally to knot the score at 15-15. The Trojans however would score five of the next six points to lead by four at 20-16. Hawai'i would later mount a 6-to-1 run and later serve for the set at 24-23. USC would reel off three-straight points which gave them the opportunity to serve for Set 3 at 25-24. But a Wagoner kill would tie up the score one last time at 25-25. Turnabout was fair play as the Trojans' Jordan Wilson's serve hit the tape and fell on the Taraflex to capture Set 3, 27-25.
 
After taking the lead at 6-5, USC never looked back. The Trojans led by as many as nine. But the momentum swung back to UH but the rally came too late. Hawai'i staved off five set points with Igiede serving before USC won the match with a 25-20 Set 4 win.
 
The Trojans were led by Skyler Fields who had a match-high 14 kills and both Kalyah Williams and Lindsey Miller had match-highs with six blocks apiece. Setter Mia Tuaniga posted a double-double with 38 assists and 14 digs.
 
Hawai'i and Southern California will square off again on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. in the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Prior to tomorrow's match, the UH athletics department is hosting the "Wahine on the Rise – FIELD DAY" from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The event is free to the public and keiki can participate in interactive activities with Rainbow Wahine teams while receiving FREE giveaways while supplies last.