PHOENIX — The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team continued its hot start to Mountain West play with a fourth consecutive sweep on Saturday afternoon, defeating Grand Canyon 25-23, 25-21, 25-10 at Global Credit Union Arena at GCU.
The Rainbow Wahine completed a two-match series sweep over the Lopes to improve to 12-3 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The 'Bows' run of sweeps is the program's longest since posting four in a row in October 2023.
Outside hitter
Tali Hakas contributed 14 kills on .387 hitting, and middle blocker
Miliana Sylvester added eight kills with just one error to hit .500 for the match. Sylvester was also in on seven of UH's 14 total blocks. The 'Bows sent back seven blocks in the third set alone in an emphatic conclusion to the series.
Panna Ratkai finished with seven kills in 19 error-free attacks as setter
Adrianna Arquette distributed 29 assists for a UH attack that hit a collective .293. Ratkai and libero
Victoria Leyva led UH's defense with 10 digs each to help the 'Bows limit GCU (7-8, 1-3) to .144 hitting.
GCU entered the week as the Mountain West's leader in hitting percentage at .257, but the Lopes were held to a .162 performance in the series. Starr Williams led the Lopes with 17 kills, but no other GCU player recorded more than five.
After UH pulled out three tight sets in Friday's series opener, the theme continued into Saturday with the opening set featuring nine ties. UH saw an early five-point lead evaporate and GCU tied the set at 15-15. The teams traded sideouts deep into the set with GCU again rallying to erase a two-point UH edge and tie the set at 23-23. A Lopes service error gave UH set point and Arquette and
Rachel Purser combined on a block to close out the set.
UH went on a four-point run to take a 14-10 lead in the second set. GCU closed to within two at 20-18 and 21-19, but the 'Bows maintained the lead and again finished the set with a block, this time by Hakas. Ratkai put away six kills and recorded an ace in the set.
The 'Bows took command of the third set with a 6-0 run with
Jaci Miyasaki on the service line, and continued to pull away. UH finished the match with an 8-0 surge highlighted by two blocks and an ace from
Cameron Holcomb before Hakas put away match point.
The Rainbow Wahine return home for a two-match series with San Jose State on Oct. 9 and 10 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
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