By: Kennedy Choo
After a first set filled with miscues and errors, the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team found themselves in a back-and-forth second.
Up 28-27 following a clutch kill by freshman outside hitter Cha’lei Reid, senior middle blocker Bri Gunderson entered the game hoping to provide an instant spark.
On the ensuing play, sophomore setter Adrianna Arquette delivered a short set to the middle, where Gunderson soared and powered a shot off a Portland (5-3) block and out of bounds. The Stan Sheriff Center erupted as Gunderson was swarmed by her teammates — a celebration that signified a turning point in the match.
From there, Hawai’i carried the momentum to win the next two sets, completing the comeback and extending their win streak to four. The victory also marked a historic milestone: the Rainbow Wahine’s 500th win at the Stan Sheriff Center, capping off an eight-game homestand that started 0-4.
“It’s a momentum sport,” assistant coach Nick Costello said. “It’s ugly, but at the end of the day, they stayed the course, and they went and got the job done.”
The tide began to turn late in the second set. Down 24-22 and facing set point, sophomore middle blocker Miliana Sylvester’s kill was initially ruled out, handing the set to the Pilots momentarily. Head coach Robyn Ah Mow immediately darted over to referee Wayne Lee, challenging the call. After a lengthy review, Lee overturned the decision, giving the Rainbow Wahine new life.
Later in the set, down 26-25, Ah Mow issued another successful challenge — this time on a net violation by Portland — which again kept Hawai’i alive.
“Coach (Ah Mow) has an eye for challenges,” sophomore libero Victoria Leyva said. “Every single time she challenges, it tends to be correct.”
The two challenges in the second proved pivotal, igniting a shift in momentum heading into the last two frames.
“Going into that third and fourth set, I told the girls we have to have energy, we have to have momentum coming into it,” Leyva said. “We have to show that we want to be out there.”
With a win in hand before heading to the mainland, Leyva believes this is a different team from the one that took the floor on opening night.
“We’re smarter, we’re a lot calmer, and we’re more disciplined,” Leyva said. “We’ve been putting in the work at every practice. Coach Rob hasn’t taken it easy on us a day in our lives — that’s something that we came to Hawai’i for.”
Leyva tied her career high with 23 digs, marking her third 20-plus-dig game of the year.
Reid once again led the way for Hawai’i, finishing with 18 kills, two aces, seven digs, and two blocks. After a slow start, junior outside hitter Stella Adeyemi came through in the clutch, delivering 14 kills, two aces, 10 digs, and a block in the win.
In the game-changing third set, Adeyemi scored six kills with just one error, giving the Wahine momentum to finish out the fourth.
Hawai’i (4-4) now gets a week off before heading to Palo Alto for the Stanford Invitational, where they’ll take on the Cardinal at 3:30 p.m. Hawai’i time on Friday at Maples Pavilion. The game will be on the ACC Network and on ESPN Honolulu 92.7 FM / 1420 AM.