HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team saw a battle with UC Santa Barbara tip to the Gauchos in a four-set loss in Sunday's Big West match at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (6-11, 2-4 Big West) pulled out a tight opening set and saw comeback bids come up short in each of the next three as UCSB (12-6, 4-2) emerged with a 24-26, 25-19, 25-18, 25-22 win while UH dropped its third straight.
 
UH had three attackers post double-figure kills led by freshman Cha'lei Reid's 15 kills with a season-high .382 hitting percentage. Middle blocker Bri Gunderson also turned in an efficient performance with 13 kills on 20 swings to finish at .500 for the match. Senior Tyla Reese Mane turned in a career high for the second consecutive match with 11 kills while hitting .346.
 
Gunderson was also in on six of UH's 11 blocks and the 'Bows reached double-digits as a team for the sixth time this season.
 
Setter Adrianna Arquette had 21 assists, seven kills, six digs and three blocks, and Audrey Hollis added 16 assists and six digs.
 
Kiersten Schmidt led UCSB with 13 kills on .550 hitting and Eva Travis and Layanna Green finished with 11 kills each. The Gauchos hit .298 as a team to UH's .231.
 
After posting five blocks in the previous two matches combined, UH posted three blocks in the early going on Sunday and moved out to a 15-12 lead. The 'Bows led 21-17 when Gunderson scored in the middle, but UCSB went on a 4-0 run to tie the set at 22-22. The teams traded sideouts and UH had set point after a UCSB error. The Gauchos forced deuce and UH again had set point with Arquette on the service line. Sylvester and Hollis then teamed up on the 'Bows' fifth block to close out the set.
 
UCSB scored the first four points of the second set and went up 17-7. UH put together a 6-1 run highlighted by back-to-back blocks to close to within five, but UCSB managed to fend off the 'Bows the rest of the way to even the match.
 
The third set saw seen 10 ties and five lead changes and UH went on a 5-0 run to take a 15-12 lead. UCSB responded with a seven-point surge to charge ahead 20-16. A block by Mane and Miliana Sylvester ended the run but UCSB closed with another 5-1 burst to close out the set.
 
UCSB went up 9-4 in the fourth set but UH chipped away and closed to 11-10 on an ace from Arquette. The 'Bows caught the Gauchos at 15-15. UCSB again went ahead and led 23-20. UH battled back and closed to within a point on a kill by Reid followed by Gunderson's sixth block of the match. UCSB scored to earn match point and UH took a timeout, but the 'Bows' attack went wide to end the comeback.
 
The Rainbow Wahine next face Long Beach State on Oct. 17 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif., to open a three-match road trip. The match will be televised nationally on ESPNU. UH will also play at UC San Diego on Oct. 18 and at UC Irvine on Oct. 21 before returning home.