SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team saw a three-match winning streak end with a loss to UC Santa Barbara on Friday at the Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, Calif.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (11-15, 7-8 Big West) surrendered a season-high 12 aces to the host Gauchos (20-8, 12-4), who finished off a 25-19, 25-12, 25-22 win in their home finale to complete a sweep of the season series with UH.
 
The 'Bows next face Cal Poly on Saturday in their final road match of the regular season. They'll enter the day alone in sixth place in the Big West standings, a game ahead of UC Irvine and one behind CSUN.
 
Miliana Sylvester led UH with eight kill in 23 attempts and five blocks, including two solo. Libero Victoria Leyva came up with 17 digs in her ninth consecutive match in double figures.
 
Cha'lei Reid fired her 40^th ace of the season in the third set to become the first player since 2019 to reach that mark in a season.
 
But UCSB's work from the service line proved pivotal in the outcome led by Gabi Martinez's five aces to go along with a match-high 10 kills. Layanna Green added three aces and seven kills.
 
The Gauchos got out to a hot start offensively to take a 10-5 lead. UH chipped into the deficit and closed to 20-18 on an ace from Kahea Moriwaki. But UCSB went on a 5-1 run to close out the set.
 
Martinez served three consecutive aces, the second credited due to a UH rotation violation, to give the Gauchos a 5-2 lead in the second set. UCSB remained in control from there, extending the lead to 19-9 on another ace on its way to taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
UH jumped ahead 5-1 in the third set with Sylvester and Reid putting away two kills each. UCSB surged ahead and led 16-10 on Michelle Zhao's second ace. The 'Bows put together a 7-1 run highlighted by Reid's ace and back-to-back kills from setter Adrianna Arquette to catch the Gauchos at 21-21. But UCSB again broke away with 4-1 closing run.
 
The 'Bows travel to San Luis Obispo, Calif., for Saturday's match at second-place Cal Poly (21-6, 12-3). First serve at the Mott Athletics Center is set for 6 p.m. Pacific Time (4 p.m. Hawai'i Time).