Rainbow Warriors Drop Series Opener to Pepperdine in Four Sets
By Kennedy Choo
Late in the decisive fourth set with the score tied at 27, Adrien Roure stepped to the service line.
Despite Pepperdine’s 2-1 set lead, the University of Hawai‘i had been battling back, matching every Wave point with one of their own as the set pushed past the 25-point limit.
Roure tossed the ball and fired a missile to the opponent’s side, finding the back corner of the floor for an ace.
All 5,313 fans inside the Stan Sheriff Center erupted, celebrating Roure’s go-ahead ace that gave Hawai‘i a 28-27 lead in the fourth set and hope of forcing a deciding fifth.
But the moment was short-lived.
Pepperdine rallied from a point behind to upset the No. 3-ranked Rainbow Warriors in the opening match of the weekend series.
Hawai‘i started the first two sets flat, dropping the opener 28-26 before falling 25-22 in the second.
However, the momentum shifted in a game-altering third set. Sophomore opposite hitter Kainoa Wade scored seven of his 19 kills in the frame, helping the Rainbow Warriors dominate 25-15 to extend the match.
Along with his 19 kills, Wade recorded nine digs, three blocks and an ace.
“I got with my teammates in the locker room after the second set and said we’ve got nothing to lose,” Wade said. “Everyone’s got our back. Let’s take swings.”
In the third set, the Rainbow Warriors tallied 17 points on 13 kills, added 3.5 blocks and committed only three errors, regaining momentum in front of the home crowd.
The fourth set proved to be a battle. Down 8-7, Waves outside hitter Cole Hartke lined up for a kill attempt, but the seven-footer was met at the net by 6-foot-10 middle blocker Trevell Jordan and the 6-foot-5 Roure for a key block that tied the set at eight. The play drew a thunderous reaction from the crowd, shaking the Stan Sheriff Center.
Even as the set went back and forth, Hawai‘i struggled from the service line, committing eight service errors.
The Rainbow Warriors will look to bounce back in the rematch at 7 p.m. Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center. The match will be broadcast on ESPN Honolulu 1500 AM and 92.7 FM.