HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team opened its final homestand of the season with a commanding performance in a sweep of Long Beach State on Friday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine (17-8, 11-4 Big West) ran away with the first set and finished strong in the second and third to close out a 25-15, 25-23, 25-21 victory to complete a sweep of the regular-season series with the Beach (16-10, 10-6).
With their fourth straight win in the series with LBSU, the 'Bows moved into a three-team tie for first place in the Big West race along with UC Davis and Cal Poly. The 'Bows close the home schedule on Saturday with their Senior Night match against UC San Diego.
UH opposite
Tali Hakas sparked the 'Bows with a dazzling all-around effort. The sophomore put away 10 kills without an error, including a score off one of her career-high 19 digs. She tied her career high with four aces, all coming in a span of five points in the first set, including three in a row. Sher also tied her season high with four blocks.
Caylen Alexander put away a match-high 12 kills, including match point, in a balanced performance for the UH attack.
Stella Adeyemi finished with 11 kills and middle blocker
Jacyn Bamis added seven.
On the eve of Senior Night, setter
Kate Lang distributed 34 assists to move into fourth place on UH's career chart with 4,310. She passed Cheri Boyer (1988-91) and enters Saturday's match three assists away from head coach
Robyn Ah Mow's career total for third in program history.
Libero
Tayli Ikenaga posted 18 digs in her penultimate home match for a UH defense that out-dug LBSU 65-45 and out-blocked the Beach 8-5.
UH scored on nine of its first 10 attempts and opened up a 16-5 lead on Adeyemi's fourth kill in as many swings and Hakas's barrage from the service line. UH built a 22-9 lead before surrendering its first natural point to LBSU. The Beach went on a 6-2 run before UH closed out the set on a kill through the middle by
Miliana Sylvester.
LBSU strung together a 6-0 run to take an 11-6 lead in the second set, but the 'Bows caught the Beach at 16-16 on Hakas' solo block and took the lead on an LBSU error. Hakas reached double-digit digs in the second set, including a save that dailed over the net and landed in the back corner for a kill. After LBSU tied the set at 23-23, Alexander's eighth kill gave UH set point and Lang's serve forced an overpass that Bamis tapped down to give UH a 2-0 lead in the match.
UH erased a 12-8 deficit with a four-point run and moved ahead 22-16 in a 7-0 run highlighted by four Hakas kills and two Alexander aces. UH earned match point on Adeyemi's final kill and Alexander closed out the match with a shot that landed in the middle of the Beach defense.
UH held LBSU to .109 hitting and Abby Karich led the Beach with eight kills.
UH's Senior Night match against UC San Diego (16-10, 10-5) is set for 7 p.m. Ikenaga and Lang will be honored in the traditional senior ceremony following the home finale.
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