Up 14-11 in a crucial fifth set, senior outside hitter Tyla Reese Mane stepped to the service line in front of a tense crowd at the Stan Sheriff Center. The University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine volleyball team had been in this position before, most notably in the season opener, when they fell 15-9 in the fifth set to Marquette. This time, Hawaiʻi was determined not to repeat history.
On the next play, freshman outside hitter Chaʻlei Reid dug a powerful attack from Portland’s senior outside hitter Elin Larsson, popping the ball up to sophomore setter Adrianna Arquette. Arquette quickly set junior outside hitter Stella Adeyemi, who rose up and hammered the ball off a Portland block and out of bounds—clinching the match.
In a thrilling five-set battle, Hawaiʻi defeated Portland to extend its winning streak to three, gaining momentum in what is still a young 2025 season.
“Winning always feels good,” Head Coach Robyn Ah Mow said postgame. “But we need to fix some stuff tomorrow and come back a little better.”
Despite the win, Ah Mow remained critical of her team’s consistency and rhythm, particularly in high-pressure moments. Portland looked to speed up the pace throughout the match but was ultimately hindered by 14 attacking errors and a staggering 19 service errors.
The Pilots made a strong push, winning the second and fourth sets and threatening to silence the home crowd. Down 10-9 in the fifth, Hawaiʻi regrouped and surged forward, scoring six of the final seven points to close out the match.
“Just come back down, play Hawaiʻi volleyball, play our style of volleyball,” Ah Mow said about the team’s mindset in crunch time.
Senior middle blocker Bri Gunderson described the match as an emotional rollercoaster but said she never doubted the team’s ability to close it out.
“In the last seven or eight points, we had confidence,” Gunderson said. “We were just going back to do our job to the best of our abilities.”
Gunderson was pivotal down the stretch, finishing with 11 kills and nine blocks, helping Hawaiʻi secure the win. She was one of four Rainbow Wahine players to tally at least six blocks, contributing to a season-high 18 total team blocks.
Reid continued her breakout freshman campaign, leading the team with 18 kills, one ace, 10 digs, and three blocks. She now leads Hawaiʻi with 97 kills on the season, averaging 3.59 per set.
Arquette also had a standout performance, recording 43 assists along with 14 digs and a career-high seven blocks, playing a key role in orchestrating the offense and holding firm on defense.
Hawaiʻi is set for a rematch with Portland at 7 p.m. at the Bank of Hawaiʻi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Photos: Garin Paguio
