After being swept on the road by the Cal State Northridge Matadors, the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team avenged that loss in emphatic fashion, defeating the Matadors in straight sets last night.
The Rainbow Wahine were firing on all cylinders, racking up 40 kills as a team while committing only nine errors for a .316 hitting percentage on the night. Hawai‘i also delivered nine service aces, treating this match with playoff-like intensity.
Along with an efficient attack, the Wahine dominated defensively, posting 12 blocks on just two block errors and digging 55 balls as a team.
“How about that blocking tonight?” Head Coach Robyn Ah Mow said. “They loosened up.”
Senior middle blocker Bri Gunderson led the way at the net with six blocks, anchoring a solid front line for Hawai‘i (10-14, 6-7 Big West Conference).
“I felt embarrassed after that last CSUN game,” Gunderson said, referring to the sweep in Northridge. “They outdefended us in that game. We didn’t want to be outdefended on our home court.”
Sophomore libero Victoria Leyva notched 17 digs and credited Hawai‘i’s blocking effort for her standout night.
“I think it’s not possible without my team,” Leyva said. “When the blockers do a great job lining up, it makes my job so much easier because I can step into holes and read the game a lot better.”
Leyva also had a career night from the service line, firing four aces.
“It makes the game a lot easier,” she said. “We’re a strong serving team.”
Cal State Northridge (14-11, 7-7 Big West) could not get anything going against Hawai‘i’s strong front line, finishing with a .027 hitting percentage and committing 21 attacking errors — a tone-setting defensive performance for the Wahine.
Up 17–14 in a tightly contested third frame, freshman outside hitter Cha’lei Reid received a set from sophomore setter Adrianna Arquette and hammered a thundering kill past an unsuspecting Matador defender for her 14th of the night.
Reid recorded her second straight and fifth career double-double, finishing with 14 kills and 10 digs.
Up next, Hawai‘i faces Cal State Bakersfield at 4 p.m. Sunday at Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center. Fans can listen live on ESPN Honolulu (1420 AM / 92.7 FM).