Wahine take down Cal Poly with a little sock ‘em, block ‘em

It may have been Welcome Week as Cal Poly started classes on Thursday, but it was Hawaii that hosted the block party.

The 14th-ranked Rainbow Wahine used a season-high 14 blocks, with four players reaching double-digit kills for a hard-fought 32-34, 27-25, 25-17, 25-20 Big West volleyball victory over the Mustangs on Saturday night. Hawaii (9-4, 2-0 Big West) finished its first road trip with its fourth straight win and 12th consecutive over the Mustangs (7-5, 0-1).

Senior opposite Nikki Taylor had a match-high 25 kills and tied her season high getting in on six blocks. Sophomore hitter McKenna Granato added 15 kills with three aces, junior Emily Maglio 10 kills and eight blocks, and senior Annie Mitchem, switching from outside hitter to middle blocker in the final set, had 12 kills and was in on a career-high six blocks.

A crowd of 2,631 watched for 2 hours and 29 minutes inside sweltering Mott Athletics Center. Sophomore hitter Alexis Clewis had 17 kills and junior hitter Raeann Greisen 16 kills and 10 digs in Cal Poly’s first home match of the season.

“It was hot in there,” Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. “There was good energy, good atmosphere with the fans, and a good test for us.

“We went 2-0 on the road against two of the better teams in our conference. We’re feeling pretty good right now.”

Hawaii showed resilience after dropping Set 1, in which the Wahine had eight set points and couldn’t close. Down 32-31, Cal Poly closed it out on a 3-0 run, using a hitting error by Taylor, a controversial lift call on junior libero Savanah Kahakai and an ace by Mustangs starting setter Taylor Nelson on Kahakai.

It was the first set the Mustangs took off the Wahine in four matches.

Set 2 again was a tight one, with Hawaii again having trouble ending it. The Mustangs fended off two set points in tying at 25, but not a third, as Taylor ended it with her 15th and 16th kills.

The Wahine led 6-5 in Set 3 when Nelson had to be replaced after cramping up. Cal Poly went to a 6-2 offense, using freshman setter Grace Rickard and senior Shannon Fouts.

The connection wasn’t there and the Wahine took advantage, pulling away at 18-11 and 20-12. Taylor’s 21st kill gave Hawaii the only set point it would need and Granato ended it with her 13th.

Nelson returned in Set 4 and Hawaii changed it up as well. Mitchem moved to her natural position at middle and freshman Kirsten Sibley replaced her on the left.

It looked as if it might go to a fifth set after two kills by Clewis put Cal Poly ahead 18-16. Hawaii used three blocks and an ace by Granato to take the lead for good at 21-18.

The Mustangs pulled to 22-20. The Wahine responded with kills by Taylor and Sibley, and a dump shot by reserve setter Kendra Koelsch.

The Wahine return to Hawaii today and will take Monday off. They host Cal State Fullerton (6-9, 1-0) on Friday and UC Riverside (5-8, 0-1) on Sunday.

The focus in practice again will be on serve-receive. Hawaii gave up six aces to Cal Poly and shanked a number of others that made it difficult to run the offense.

“When we pass well, we’re harder to stop,” Shoji said. “We’re just not real smooth in that area right now.

“Our focus this week will be trying to find a lineup and get some people healthy. Nikki could stand some rest and Maglio had a muscle problem.”

Hawaii did a nice job on slowing the reigning conference freshman of the year, Mustangs sophomore hitter Adlee Van Winden. She struggled Saturday, finishing with six kills and hitting negative .133.

The Wahine won the dig war 60-57, with junior libero Kahakai tying her career high with 23. Mustangs libero Katherine Brouker had 20 digs.