HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team continued a packed portion of the schedule with a four-set victory over Texas State on Tuesday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
UH outside hitter
Caylen Alexander posted her fourth double-double in five matches this season with 20 kills and 10 digs, and UH's middle duo of
Jacyn Bamis and
Miliana Sylvester combined for another 20 kills to help power the Rainbow Wahine (4-1) to the 25-17, 15-25, 25-19, 25-18 victory in the first of two meetings with the Bobcats (3-3) this week.
Coming off two five-set matches with Pepperdine over the weekend, the 'Bows had a couple of days to recharge for Tuesday's meeting with the Bobcats and will have a couple more to prepare for the OUTRIGGER Invitational. UH will face Oregon State on Friday with a rematch with Texas State set for Saturday.
Aside from a lull in the second set, the 'Bows controlled much of Tuesday's match to improve to 4-0 in the all-time series with Texas State. Alexander, the Big West's kills-per-set leader, posted at least 20 kills for the fourth time this season and was also in on four blocks and had an ace.
UH setter
Kate Lang (39 assists) got both middles involved in the attack early and Bamis and Sylvester finished with 10 kills each. Bamis added four block assists and an ace and Sylvester had three blocks, including a solo stuff.
Tali Hakas led the UH defense with a season-high 16 digs and libero
Tayli Ikenaga, the reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Week, finished with 14. Defensive specialist
Victoria Leyva added 10 digs for her third double-digit performance of the season.
Bamis scored on four of her first five swings and was in on a block to help the 'Bows take a 17-12 lead in the opening set. Leyva had two aces in a five-point UH run and Alexander's sixth kill gave UH set point before a Texas State error gave the 'Bows the lead.
Fortunes flipped in the second set with Texas State opening with a 4-0 run and stretching the lead to 18-9. The Bobcats hit .379 in the set to even the match and took a set for the first time in four meetings with UH.
Alexander helped UH reassert control in the third set with seven kills in 14 swings and the 'Bows hit .326 in the set. UH built a 15-11 lead at the technical timeout and went on to stretch the margin to 22-16 following back-to-back blocks with Bamis assisting on both. Alexander punctuated the set with her 15
th kill of the night.
UH went on a 7-0 run with Alexander on the service line to take control of the fourth set. Alexander had a kill and assist and an ace in the surge that pushed UH ahead 12-6. Texas State closed to within three at 20-17 but UH closed out the match with a four-point run with
Stella Adeyemi putting away match point.
Samantha Wunsch and Bailey Hanner led Texas State with 11 kills each.
Texas State faces Oregon State in the OUTRIGGER Invitational opener at 2 p.m. HT on Thursday.
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