DAVIS, Calif. — A bounce-back performance on Saturday propelled the University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team to a four-set win over Big West leader UC Davis and into a tie for first place in the conference race.
Two days after a five-set loss at UC Riverside, the Rainbow Wahine (16-8, 10-4 Big West) responded with a resounding 26-24, 21-25, 25-9, 25-18 victory over the Aggies (15-8, 10-4) at University Credit Union Center in Davis, Calif.
UH entered the day a game behind UC Davis and forged the tie at the top of the standings while earning a split of the regular-season series with the Aggies.
Caylen Alexander again led the Rainbow Wahine attack with 21 kills in 51 attempts and had 10 digs in her 15
th double-double of the season. She was also in on a team-high four blocks, including two solo.
Tali Hakas also posted a double-double with a season-high 14 kills and 15 digs and hit a career high .480.
Middle blocker
Jacyn Bamis and outside hitter
Stella Adeyemi contributed nine kills each. Adeyemi closed out a UH comeback in the first set and Bamis teamed Alexander with a block on match point.
The UH defense came up with 73 digs to UC Davis' 54 led by the back-row combo of libero
Tayli Ikenaga (19 digs) and defensive specialist
Victoria Leyva (10). Leyva also served up two of UH's six aces while the 'Bows allowed just three with Ikenaga and Leyva combining to handle 30 serve receptions without an error.
Kate Lang dished out 51 assists and directed an attack that hit .390 over a commanding third and fourth sets. She also had four kills, including a score on one of her eight digs.
UH trailed 17-13 in the first set before going on a 5-1 run to catch the Aggies. There were a total of 14 ties in the set and UH survived a set point before taking its first lead of the match at 25-24. Adeyemi put away her fourth kill to close out the set.
UC Davis took control of the second set with a six-point run and held off a UH comeback to even the match.
UH inched out to a 9-7 lead in the third set then allowed just two more points over the remainder of a dominant set. Leyva had two aces in the set and Lang served up two more in an eight-point run to finish off the set. UH hit .480 with 12 kills on 25 error-free attempts and held an opponent to single digits in a set for the first time since a 25-8 first set against CSU Bakersfield last season on Sept. 22, 2023.
The 'Bows never trailed in the fourth set behind six kills each from Hakas and Alexander and Bamis scored on four of her five swings. UH led 10-8 then took control with a five-point run. Alexander reached the 20-kill mark for the 14th time this season and teamed with Bamis on the block on match point.
The Rainbow Wahine return to SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for their final homestand of the season. UH faces Long Beach State on Nov. 15 and takes on UC San Diego on Senior Night. Ikenaga and Lang will be honored following their final home match.
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