HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team opened a two-island spring series with Wisconsin with a four-set loss to the Badgers on Tuesday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The Rainbow Wahine started strong to take the first set before the Badgers of the Big Ten pulled away in the next three to win the series opener 19-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-19.
 
UH and Wisconsin will take a day trip to Kaua'I for Wednesday's rematch at Kaua'i High School.  
 
UH middle blocker Bri Gunderson led the Rainbow Wahine with 12 kills on 22 attempts to hit .545. The senior transfer was also in on four blocks. Miliana Sylvester added six kills on 10 swings and UH's middles both finished the match without an attack error.
 
Sophomores Audrey Hollis and Adrianna Arquette both started and shared duties at setter and opposite. Hollis put away nine kills in 20 attacks and finished with 16 assists, seven digs and three aces. Arquette had 19 assists, seven digs and an ace. Tali Hakas added eight kills and had nine digs to match libero Victoria Leyva for team-high honors.
 
Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer, a transfer from Oregon, led the Badgers with a match-high 20 kills on 43 attempts to his .372.  
 
UH scored on five of its first 10 attacks to take an 8-3 lead in the opening set. The 'Bows remained in control and took a 21-13 lead when freshman Cha'lei Reid landed an ace. UH earned set point at 24-17 when Hollis' served up UH's third ace of the night and Gunderson closed out the set with her fifth kill.
 
Wisconsin jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second and UH answered with a six-point run. The Badgers pulled ahead with a 6-1 surge to take a 15-9 lead and remained in control through the end of the set to even the match. Colyer powered Wisconsin with seven kills in 10 swings in the set.
 
The Badgers went on a 6-0 run midway through the third set and took an 18-11 lead when Grace Egan delivered three consecutive aces. UH closed to 19-16 before Wisconsin went on a 4-1 run and finished off the set to take the lead in the match.
 
The teams played even through the first 14 points of the third set but Wisconsin went on a 5-0 run to take a 12-7 lead. Wisconsin led 22-15 when UH chipped into the lead with Reid putting down a kill then landing her second ace of the match. Hakas and Sylvester teamed on a block to bring the 'Bows within four. Two UH errors gave Wisconsin match point and Egan closed out the win for the Badgers.
 
The Rainbow Wahine and Badgers take part in a keiki clinic prior to Wednesday's match on the Garden Isle and first serve is set for 1 p.m. at Kaua'i High School.