By: Kennedy Choo

Rainbow Wahine could not contain the Golden Eagles down the stretch.

Down 8-9 in a crucial fifth set, sophomore libero Victoria Leyva lines up to serve, trying to spark a comeback for the University of Hawai’i volleyball team against Marquette University. After being up two sets to none, the Rainbow Wahine were down in a crucial fifth set, trying to claw their way back for the first win of the 2025 season.

A set from sophomore setter Audrey Hollis to junior outside hitter Stella Adeyemi electrified the Stan Sheriff Center, tying the fifth set 9-9. After that point, the Golden Eagles surged and rattled off six straight points to complete the comeback against Hawai’i, handing the Rainbow Wahine their first loss of 2025.

“Make adjustments,” Head Coach Robyn Ah-Mow said. “Pretty much make adjustments.”

Marquette senior outside hitter Natalie Ring led the match with 27 kills, with the Rainbow Wahine unable to shut her down.

In a pivotal third set down 24-23, sophomore middle blocker Miliana Sylvester blocked Ring to tie the game 24-24. On the next play, freshman defensive specialist Kahea Moriwaki found a gap in Marquette’s defense and delivered a perfect ace, giving Hawai’i the lead at 25-24. This was the start of a battle in the third.

“After the first set, we were talking about how we actually had the momentum of being able to fight in that third set,” sophomore middle blocker Milana Sylvester said. Sylvester tallied 14 kills on the night. “But, if we can continue to take that into the fourth set, that is more important than just talking about it.”

Hawai’i had six match points in the third set, eventually losing 34-32 in a tug-of-war.

“Me and Mil could list a lot of things we could have done better in that third set,” sophomore setter Adrianna Arquette said reflecting on the third set. “We need to collectively all make that turnaround and make those adjustments worth it.”

Arquette totaled 49 assists, seven digs, six blocks, and a kill in the loss, settling in nicely into her new starting role as setter for the Rainbow Wahine. But, Arquette voiced that she needs to improve, and learn from this game.

“There’s a lot of moments where I could’ve done better,” Arquette said. “For me, just learning from this game and getting my hitters in better situations tomorrow.”

The Golden Eagles dominated the fourth set, not letting up the lead once. Junior outside hitter Tali Hakas ignited the Rainbow Wahine with a bullet from her outside hitter position to make the score 24-14. Three straight errors brought Hawai’i back within striking distance, trailing 24-17. Arquette gave a low pass to Sylvester to bring the Rainbow Wahine within six, but freshman setter Isabela Haggard won set four with a float pass to the middle.

When asked about lineups, Coach Ah Mow was firm to say that there isn’t a problem with her starting seven.

“We need to make faster adjustments, and be better up here,” gesturing to her head. “If we would have made some adjustments, even in that third, maybe it would have gone differently.”

Hawai’i gears up to play Utah State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 30th at the Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center, hoping to bounce back against the Aggies.