Down 13-12 in a do-or-die fifth set, freshman outside hitter Cha’lei Reid rose to the occasion. Off a precise set from sophomore Adrianna Arquette, Reid soared from the left pin and hammered home a kill to tie the set at 13 all. But despite the momentum swing, the University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine Volleyball team came up just short, falling to San Jose State 15-13 in the deciding frame.
After dropping the first two sets, the Wahine mounted an electric comeback behind Reid’s breakout performance. The freshman posted a career-high 26 kills, along with two aces, nine digs, and two blocks in a valiant effort.
“I love the fight. I love the fight back,” said Head Coach Robyn Ah Mow.
Junior middle blocker Bri Gunderson, a preseason All-Big West selection, made a major impact off the bench. She notched 15 kills, three aces, three digs, and five blocks, including a critical pair of aces late in the third set to spark the turnaround.
With the Spartans up two sets to none, Gunderson’s back-to-back aces pushed Hawaiʻi to a commanding 23-16 lead in the third. Junior outside hitter Stella Adeyemi sealed the set to shift momentum firmly in the Wahine’s favor.
Hawaiʻi dominated the fourth behind Reid’s five kills, forcing a winner-take-all fifth set.
The Wahine came out hot in the final frame. A serve from sophomore libero Victoria Leyva led to a Gunderson block and a 4-1 lead. Reid later drilled an ace off San Jose State freshman libero Talita dos Santos Goncalves, putting Hawaiʻi up 8-5.
But the Spartans clawed back, capitalizing on Wahine errors to tie the set at 4 and eventually 13. A late block by San Jose State sophomore Learden Lee sealed the win and snapped the Wahine’s comeback hopes.
With the loss, Hawaiʻi falls to 0-4 for the first time to start a season.
The Rainbow Wahine look to rebound this Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Utah Valley University at Bank of Hawaiʻi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.