HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball earned a milestone win in rousing fashion on Friday with a four-set victory over Portland on Friday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
One point away from being down two sets to none, the Rainbow Wahine instead fought off five set points on their way to evening the match and the remarkable comeback propelled them to an 18-25, 29-27, 25-19, 25-18 victory over the Pilots.
The win marked the program's 500
th win in the Stan Sheriff Center and gave the 'Bows a sweep of the two-match series with the Pilots. UH improved to 500-79 all-time in the arena since opening night in 1994 when it was then known as the Special Events Arena.
UH (4-4) closed their season-opening homestand on a four-match winning streak heading into the first road trip of the season.
After a ragged start, UH battled back from a 24-21 deficit in the second set then surged away in the third and fourth sets, hitting a collective .456 over the final two sets to close out the win.
Cha'lei Reid led three UH players in double figures with a match-high 18 kills.
Stella Adeyemi posted her third double-double of the season with 14 kills and 10 digs and
Miliana Sylvester put away 10 kills and contributed three of UH's eight blocks.
Bri Gunderson added nine kills and also three blocks at the net, but the back row proved instrumental in the victory as well. Libero
Victoria Leyva tied her career high with 23 digs and defensive specialist
Leilani Lopez delivered two aces off the bench and a key dig to help end the third set.
Setter
Adrianna Arquette finished with 45 assists as the UH attack found its rhythm as the match progressed.
A night after a five-set battle won by the 'Bows, Friday's opening set was tied at 9-9 before Portland went on a 4-0 run and the Pilots maintained control through the end of the set.
Portland appeared poised to take command of the match when the Pilots pulled away late to take a 24-21 lead. Gunderson and
Tyla Reese Mane combined on a block to keep the 'Bows alive and a shot by Sylvester was initially ruled wide, but the call was overturned following a UH challenge. Lopez then delivered an ace to force deuce at 24-24. Portland had another chance at set point reversed by a net violation and UH moved into the lead. Portland survived one set point before Reid scored and Gunderson finished off a lengthy rally with a kill in the middle to end the set and send the teams into intermission knotted at a set apiece.
UH rolled the momentum into the third set and jumped out to a 10-5 lead. A sprawling one-handed save by Lopez set up Adeyemi for her sixth kill of the set and 11
th of the match to give UH the lead in the match. Adeyemi hit .455 in the set in 11 swings and Reid added five kills as UH pulled away. UH hit .424 in the set with 18 kills and four errors in 33 attempts while holding Portland to .194.
The 'Bows were even more efficient in the fourth with 12 kills in 24 error-free attempts. Lopez's second ace gave UH a 12-10 and the 'Bows continued to pull away. Gunderson had three kills in a span of five points and Mane gave UH match point with her seventh kill. A Portland service error ended the match and extended the 'Bows' winning streak.
Elin Larsson led Portland (5-3) with 17 kills and Lucia Busso added 16.
The Rainbow Wahine embark on their first road trip of the season next week and will play three matches at Stanford, starting with a meeting with the host and sixth-ranked Cardinal on Sept. 19. UH will also face UCLA on Sept. 20 and Texas State on Sept. 21.
#HawaiiWVB
