HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team was edged out by Minnesota in five sets for the second-straight night. The Golden Gophers held off Hawai'i in a hard-fought, second Spring match, 19-25, 25-23, 16-25, 25-16, 13-15 on Wednesday night at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
In the loss, all five starting Rainbow Wahine hitters recorded double-digit kills with Caylen Alexander leading the way with a team-high 16 to go with a team-best three service aces. Pin-hitters Tiffany Westerberg and Kendra Ham added 11 and 10 kills respectively while the middles—Amber Igiede and Kennedi Evans—combined for 26 kills and a .512 hitting percentage. In four sets, Igiede tallied 10 kills with a game-high six blocks and Evens put down 13 kills and was in on one block.
 
UH setter Kate Lang posted a double-double with 37 assists and 12 digs with two service aces, and fellow setter Jackie Matias added 12 assists, two kills and nine digs.
 
In Set 1, Minnesota led by as many as nine points at 18-9, but UH rallied late on a 6-to-1 run to close to within four, forcing a Golden Gopher timeout. But the U of M would pull away to take the first set, 25-19. Kendra Ham paced the 'Bows with four kills while Kennedi Evans added three in the first frame.
 
Hawai'i jumped out to an early 7-3 lead fueled in part by three Igiede kills to start the second set. But Minnesota quickly recovered to take the lead scoring eight-straight points good for a 12-8 lead. Hawai'i would rally right back via a 9-to-2 run as UH see-sawed back into the lead, 16-14. The Rainbow Wahine would hold off the Golden Gophers the rest of the set, evening the match at 1-1 after winning Set 2, 25-23.
 
In the third set, the Golden Gophers raced out to an early 9-3 lead and never looked back. Later, with UH trailing 16-11, a 5-to-2 scoring run brought the 'Bows to within just two down 18-16. But the U of M would pull away, scoring the next seven-straight points to capture Set 3, 25-16.
 
The fourth set saw six ties and four lead changes early on. UH scoring four to go up 12-9 and from that point on, UH never trailed. Hawai'i scored eight of the last nine points to take Set 4 going away, 25-17 tying the match at 2-2 and forcing a fifth set for the second-straight night.
 
With UH leading 4-3 to start the fifth, Minnesota scored six-consecutive points to take a 9-4 lead. UH battled back, countering with five-straight to tie the Golden Gophers at 9-9. But U of M would seal the win, 15-11.
 
Minnesota's Mckenna Wucherer posted a game-high 19 kills while hitting .432 and dealing out a game-high six service aces. Melani Shaffmaster dished out 46 assists with 12 digs and Arica Davis and Elise McGhie ad a team-high four blocks apiece.