Down 24–13 in the fourth set, Maddie Way readied herself to receive a quick set from sophomore setter Adrianna Arquette. The swing was solid, but the ball sailed long, deflating the Stan Sheriff Center and encapsulating a rough night for the Rainbow Wahine.
After a hard-fought five-set victory the night before against UC Riverside, the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team couldn’t regain its footing on Saturday, falling in four sets to UC Davis in their first Big West Conference loss of the season.
Injuries continued to plague the already short-handed Wahine (5-8, 1-1 Big West Conference). Star freshman outside hitter Cha’lei Reid exited the match after an awkward landing on the left post following a kill attempt. She was helped off the court by two team assistants and did not return.
The team was already without junior outside hitters Tali Hakas and Stella Adeyemi, sidelined with shoulder and knee injuries, respectively.
Despite a strong showing in the second set, led by the dominant play of sophomore middle blocker Miliana Sylvester, Hawai‘i struggled to maintain consistency. In the third set, the Wahine committed seven errors and recorded just six kills, coming out flat after tying the match at one set apiece.
Sylvester was one of the few bright spots on the night, finishing with 11 kills, one ace, and four blocks, while hitting an efficient .625 on 16 swings.
The fourth set offered little redemption. Hawai‘i committed nine attack errors and five service errors, managing just 13 points in the final frame, giving the Aggies (6-4, 2-0 BWC) the win.
No players or coaches were made available for postgame comments.
The Rainbow Wahine now look ahead to their second road trip of the season, facing CSU Bakersfield and CSU Northridge on October 4 and 5, with first serves scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. HST, respectively. Fans can tune in live on ESPN Honolulu, 1420 AM / 92.7 FM.