SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine beach volleyball team opened postseason action at the 2026 Big West Beach Volleyball Championship with a split on the first day of modified pool play at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Thursday. The third-seeded Rainbow Wahine (18-13) swept No. 6 seed Sacramento State 5-0 in the morning before falling to No. 2 seed Long Beach State 4-1 in the afternoon.

Entering the tournament on a season-best five-match winning streak, Hawai'i started strong in Pool B by dominating Sacramento State. The 5-0 result was UH's third sweep in the last four matches.  UH won four of five matches in straight sets. Julia Lawrenz and Izadora Stedile continued to anchor the top of the lineup, cruising past Reese Ampi and Ashlynn Archer at the No. 1 flight for their team-high 22nd win on the season. 

In the afternoon match, Long Beach State snapped Hawai'i's winning streak by taking four of the five flights to comfortably secure the dual and mirror the 4-1 result from when the two teams previously met at the Big West Challenge in March.

The Beach took control early, with Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah defeating Lawrenz and Stedile at the No. 1 flight, and Tineke Hinton and Demi Wagdy beating Emily Heintzelman and Kiera Cornman at No. 2. Kristen Serrano and Caprice Lorenzo were the lone bright spot for the BeachBows providing the team's only point by defeating Victoria Henkel and Savannah Standage at the No. 4 flight, 21-17, 21-18. It was the second win of the day for the duo who also picked up a straight set win against Sacramento State.  

The Rainbow Wahine return to the sand on Friday as single-elimination bracket play commences. UH will face an opponent to be determined at 7:00 a.m. HT.

Hawai'i 5 Sacramento State 0
1. Lawrenz/Stedile (UH) def. Reese Ampi/Ashlynn Archeri (SAC) 21-14, 21-12
2. Heintzelman/Cornman (UH) def. Victoria Marthaler/Aurora Bibolotti (SAC) 21-15, 23-21
3. Sydney Miller/Julia Thelle (UH) def. Kate Doorn/Mia Guevara (SAC) 21-14, 19-21, 15-11
4. Serrano/Lorenzo (UH) def. Greta Davis/Sklyer Gartin (SAC) 21-13, 21-12
5. Sarah Burton/Sophie Buschmann (UH) def. Karlie Spohn/Abbey Kadillak (SAC) 21-6, 26-24
Order of finish: 4, 1, 2*, 5, 3

Long Beach State 4 Hawai'i 1
1. Malia Gementera/Taylor Hagenah (LBSU) def. Lawrenz/Stedile (UH) 21-13, 21-19
2. Tineke Hinton/Demi Wagdy (LBSU) def. Heintzelman/Cornman (UH) 21-17, 21-16
3. Kiara Edwards/Mahala Esser (LBSU) def. Miller/Lorenzo (UH) 21-19, 21-19
4. Serrano/Thelle (UH) def. Victoria Henkel/Savannah Standage (LBSU) 21-17, 21-18
5. Kealoha Phillips/Brooke Birch (LBSU) def. Burton/Buschmann (UH) 21-17, 21-13 
Order of finish: 5, 2, 1*, 4, 3