HONOLULU — Facing his former team, University of Hawai'i women's volleyball coach Joshua Walker led the Rainbow Wahine through a five-set battle with No. 21 Baylor before seeing the upset bid come up just short on Saturday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine pushed the Bears of the Big 12 to the limit in a 25-17, 14-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-9 duel to cap the second day of the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic.
UH outside hitter
Cha'lei Reid led the Rainbow Wahine with 21 kills, posting at least 20 for the second time in her career. Middle blocker
Miliana Sylvester added 10 kills and sparked the 'Bows with seven blocks.
Setter
Adrianna Arquette distributed 45 assists and had six blocks. She fired two aces in a nine-point service turn in the second set that turned the momentum of the match.
Baylor's block powered the Bears early and again late with seven in the first set and another seven in the fifth. Baylor finished with 20 blocks for the night with Victoria Davis in on 10.
Walker served on Baylor's coaching staff for four years before returning to UH as head coach. Prior to the match, he presented Baylor coach Ryan McGuyre with a koa wood knife in appreciation for their time coaching together.
Baylor came up with six blocks early in the first set and took a 15-10 lead. The Bears stretched the lead to 20-12 before Sylvester sparked UH with a kill and a block. Baylor regained command and closed out the set.
The second set was defined at the service line for the Rainbow Wahine. Back-to-back aces from
Victoria Leyva helped the 'Bows edge out to a 6-4 lead in the second set and an ace from Purser gave UH a 9-6 lead. UH led 13-11 when Arquette went to the service line and she stayed there for the next nine points in a run highlighted by two aces and three kills from Reid. Her service turn ended with UH up 22-12 and the 'Bows closed out the set with a kill from Sylvester to even the match.
Baylor led 18-14 in the third set before a lengthy officials review and when play resumed UH put down three consecutive blocks, with Sylvester teaming with Reid on the first and Arquette on the next two. UH tied the set at 22-22 on a solo block by Maëli Cormier. Three UH attack errors then helped the Bears regain the lead in the match.
UH led 15-13 at the technical timeout of the fourth set and traded sideouts with the Bears to maintain a slim lead deep into the set. Baylor closed to 23-22 to prompt a UH timeout. Sylvester hammered a kill to give UH set point at 24-22. After a service error kept Baylor alive, the Bears served into the net to send the teams to the decisive set.
UH scored the first two points of the fifth before Baylor went on a 6-1 run to take control. The Bears opened up an 11-5 cushion on their way to finishing off the win.
The Rainbow Wahine close out the season's opening weekend on Sunday when they face San Diego in the tournament finale. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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