Wahine fall to third

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. » The Big West Conference’s newest power in women’s volleyball frustrated Hawaii’s attempt to regain first place Thursday night.

Cal State Northridge needed 2 hours, 48 minutes to rally for a 30-32, 28-26, 20-25, 25-22, 15-10 victory against the eighth-ranked Rainbow Wahine at the Matadome.

As a result, Hawaii (16-3, 5-2) fell into third place in the conference standings, a game and a half behind the first-place Matadors (17-4, 7-1) and a half-game behind second-place UC Santa Barbara.

For Northridge’s Mahina Haina, the 2009 ILH player of the year from ‘Iolani, the win held great personal significance.

"I can die happy," Haina said. "Growing up, you always want to play for home, you know what I mean? But you get the chance to go away and play somewhere, and that’s a fun experience."

The Matadors used superior serving to frustrate the Wahine’s offense and stifling blocking to thwart Emily Hartong, the Big West leader in kills. Hartong finished with 25 kills but committed 13 attacking errors and hit just .174.

In the final three sets, UH twice compiled averages of less than .200 — and hit no better than .211.

"We tried to make sure that we were going to block her," Haina said of Hartong. "We respect her as a hitter; she’s one of the best. We made sure that we always knew where she was and where her attacking line was."

Meanwhile, Northridge converted six service aces, two each by Kelcie Randazzo and Sydney Gedryn, the Matadors’ setter whose constant quick sets and tips at the net kept the Wahine off balance.

Nevertheless, Hawaii had a chance to win the match.

The Wahine rallied from a seven-point deficit to take a 24-23 lead in the second set. But on set point, Hartong’s spike from the left side sailed wide.

Ashley Kastl’s kill tied the score at 26. But Gedryn executed a quick set that Sam Kaul pounded to regain set point, which Natalie Allen secured on a cross-court kill from the right antenna.

"That was definitely a pivotal point in the match," Haina said of the secnd set. "We needed it. Without it, we wouldn’t have gotten back in the game."

In the fourth set, the Wahine built an 8-3 lead before Northridge recovered to move ahead, 13-9. Gedryn participated in two blocks and added a tip, while Allen added a kill and a block.

UH narrowed its deficit to 22-21 on Hartong’s kill. Then Gedryn took over.

The senior’s quick set to Kaul extended Northridge’s lead to 23-21. Casey Hinger’s long serve gave UH another point but Gedryn and Kaul combined on another quick set, then Gedryn and Allen blocked UH’s Tai Manu-Olevao to secure the set.

Until that set, momentum flowed back and forth. In the first set, both teams forced 18 ties, exchanged the lead five times and failed to convert set point a combined seven times.

Northridge needed one point to claim the first set when Manu-Olevao’s cross-court kill tied the score, 30-30. Nikki Taylor blocked Haina to put the Wahine ahead, then Kalei Adolpho pounded a kill off Mita Uiato’s quick set to give the Wahine the win.