BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A resounding collective performance from Hawai'i's sophomore class helped propel the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team to a four-set win over CSU Bakersfield on Friday at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, Calif.
Adrianna Arquette posted her second triple-double in the span of a week while sharing setting and hitting duties with fellow sophomore
Audrey Hollis — who turned in a double-double herself — and the Rainbow Wahine (6-8, 2-1 Big West) opened a conference road trip with a 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 25-17 win over the Roadrunners (3-13, 0-4).
UH's sophomore middle combo of
Maddie Way and
Miliana Sylvester combined for 24 kills while hitting .548 between them, and libero
Victoria Leyva led the back row with 20 digs.
Rayvn Dash, yet another sophomore, added nine kills and put away match point to seal UH's first road win of the season. Senior
Tyla Reese Mane started on the outside and sparked the 'Bows early on her way to a nine-kill night.
The Rainbow Wahine started two setters for the first time this season with Arquette and Hollis in the lineup together throughout Friday's match. A week after recording UH's first triple-double since 2018, Arquette set career bests with 14 kills and 17 digs to go along with 28 assists. Hollis finished with season highs of 24 assists, 15 digs and four kills, and both setters delivered three aces.
Way set a career high 13 kills in 17 error-free attacks in a .765 hitting performance. Sylvester finished with 11 kills with just one error in 25 swings and was in on six of UH's nine blocks.
Leyva reached 20 digs for the fifth time this season and UH improved to 10-0 in the all-time series with CSUB, including 5-0 in Bakersfield.
UH led throughout the first set and broke away from the Roadrunners with a 5-0 run highlighted by two aces from Arquette. Mane led UH with five kills, the last coming on set point after Leyva made a sprawling save to extend a rally.
The 'Bows held a 17-16 lead in the second set before going on a 6-1 surge. CSUB answered with a 6-0 run to tie the set at 23-23. Sylvester ended the run with a kill in the middle and Arquette delivered her third ace to end the set.
CSUB took a 13-9 lead in the third set and maintained control to extend the match. The Roadrunners hit .375 in the set to send the match to the fourth.
UH re-established command by jumping out to a 9-3 lead after Way put away a kill and teamed with Arquette on a block. The 'Bows led by as many as nine on their way to closing out the match. Way put away six kills in seven attempts in the set and Sylvester had five kills in eight swings.
The Rainbow Wahine conclude the road trip on Saturday at CSUN (8-6. 1-2). First serve is set for 6 p.m. Pacific Time (3 p.m. Hawai'i Time) at Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge, Calif.
#HawaiiWVB
