Box Score IRVINE, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team's Big West title defense survived a five-set battle with UC Davis (19-10) on Friday in the semifinals of the Hawaiian Islands presents the 2024 Outrigger Big West Women's Volleyball Championship at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif.. The Rainbow Wahine held off the Aggies in a heart-pounding, five set win, 25-22, 16-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-13 to advance to the Big West Championship match on Saturday afternoon against top-seeded Cal Poly.
The second-seeded and defending tournament champion Rainbow Wahine (20-9) went to a fifth set for the 11th time this season. UH is now 7-4 in five set matches. It marked the 44th time in program history that the Rainbow Wahine have recorded 20 wins in a season.
For the 15th time this season, Big West Player of the Year, Caylen Alexander put down 20+ kills. She finished with her 28th double-double of her career with a match-high 22 kills and a career-high 17 digs. She was one of four Hawai'i players to record double-digit kills on Friday night.
Middle blocker Jacyn Bamis tied her career-high, pounding down 15 kills with just two errors for a team-best .448 hitting percentage. Bamis also added a team-high four blocks while adding three digs. Tali Hakas recorded her eighth double-double of her career posting 11 kills and 15 digs. Stella Adeymi came through with 11 timely kills to tally her 13th double-digit kill match of her career.
BW Setter of the Year Kate Lang led UH with her 49th career double-double with 50 assists and 17 digs. It marked her 18th career and eighth time this season that Lang has dished out 50 or more assists.
Big West Libero of the Year Tayli Ikenaga scooped up a team-high 19 digs and had seven assists plus a service ace in the victory. In all, five Rainbow Wahine came up with double-digit digs for the match (Ikenaga, Alexander, Lang, Hakas, and defensive specialist Victoria Leyva).
Alexander had UH's first three kills of the match and the teams traded sideouts early on with UH edging out to an 11-10 lead. The 'Bows then broke away with an 8-1 run with Bamis contributing two kills, Alexander putting away two more and Lang capping the surge with an ace. UH earned set point at 24-16 before UC Davis put together a 6-0 run before a service error gave UH the lead in the match.
UC Davis jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the second set with an 8-0 run. UH chippd away and closed to 16-13 on an ace served up by Ikenaga. UC Davis broke away again at 20-14 and went on to close out the set to even the match.
UH's defense helped spur the 'Bows to a 13-9 lead in the third set with two blocks. Alexander's 14th kill extended the lead to 19-13. UH earned set point at 24-18 and UC Davis fought off two set points before Lang fed Bamis in the middle to close out the set and give UH the lead in the match.
The teams played close deep into the fourth set with UC Davis taking a 19-16 lead. UH answered with kills from Adeyemi and Alexander to close to within a point and UH tied the set at 20-20 on Alexander's 18th kill. UC Davis moved back ahead and led 23-21 on the Aggies' sixth ace. A kill on an overpass gave the Aggies set point and a UH net violation sent the match to the fifth set.
The teams traded momentum swings in the fifth and deciding set. Both teams traded side outs early on before UC Davis took a 6-3 edge. UH took a timeout trailing 7-4 then went on a 6-0 run, moving ahead on back-to-back kills from Adeyemi and opening up a 10-7 lead on a block and a kill from Hakas. UC Davis answered back to tie it up and took the lead again at 12-11 lead on an ace. UH tied it up again at 12-12 on a Bamis slide. Alexander gave UH match point and then finished the match with kills No. 21 and 22. UH ended the match on a 4-to-1 run. The 22nd and final Alexander kill was reviewed and the point stayed with UH to send the 'Bows back to Saturday's Championship match.
UC Davis was led by three Aggies who all recorded double-doubles. Olivia Utterback recorded team-highs of 18 kills and 16 digs. Setter Mia Starr issued 44 assists and 13 digs and Jade Light added 13 kills and 10 digs.
Hawai'i advances to face top-seeded Cal Poly (22-8) in Saturday's championship match set for 5 p.m. Pacific Time (3 p.m. Hawai'i Time) at UC Irvine's Bren Events Center.
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