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DARRELL MIHO / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine Emily Hartong hits past the block of Cal State Fullerton Titans Leah Best during a game on Saturday at Titan Gym in Fullerton.
Senior hitter Emily Hartong put down 16 kills and No. 12 Hawaii claimed a share of its 19th consecutive conference title with a 25-19, 25-18, 27-25 victory over Cal State Fullerton Saturday night in Fullerton, Calif.
Freshman opposite Nikki Taylor added 13 kills and junior middle Kalei Adolpho hit 1.000 with eight kills and no errors for the Rainbow Wahine (24-4, 13-3 Big West). Hartong added a double-double with 11 digs. Senior libero Ali Longo also had 11 digs.
Bre Moreland led the Titans (11-17, 4-12) with 11 kills.
Hawaii hit .368 as a team. Hartong had just one error in 33 swings in hitting .455.
Senior middle Kristiana Tuaniga pud down all three of her attempts when playing only in Set 3.
Hawaii, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge finished at 13-3. UCSB earned the automatic berth into the NCAA tournament on the conference tiebreaker.
The Gauchos defeated UC Irvine 26-24, 22-25, 29-27, 25-12 while the Matadors outlasted UC Davis 21-25, 25-9, 18-25, 27-25, 15-5.
Hawaii expected to be awarded an at-large berth. UH learns its postseason fate Sunday during the NCAA selection show. The Wahine are No. 11 in the RPI this week and are hoping for a top-16 seed in order to host the NCAA tournament first and second rounds.
