Rainbow Wahine earn hard-fought sweep

RIVERSIDE, Calif. » The latest Big West Conference women’s volleyball match between Hawaii and UC Riverside introduced a new reality.

Despite their record, the Highlanders no longer provide an easy target at which opponents can aim.

The Rainbow Wahine, ranked 25th nationally, had to rally in all three sets for their seventh victory in eight matches: a 25-12, 29-27, 25-19 decision Saturday night at UC Riverside’s Student Recreation Center.

"They’re much better than they were last year," UH coach Dave Shoji said of the Highlanders. "That’s a positive for our conference."

Riverside (2-11, 0-1) lost six successive matches before playing its first contest at home Saturday night. But in the process, the Highlanders exhibited a defense that ranks third in the conference at 15.47 digs per set.

Against UH (10-3, 2-0), UCR came up with 63 digs. Maddie Hubbell led four teammates in double figures with 18 digs.

"They played unbelievable defense," Shoji said. "We just kind of stood around and watched them dig balls. We just couldn’t match their intensity."

Accentuating the Wahine’s problems is adjusting to life without outside hitter Emily Hartong, twice an All-American and twice the Big West’s player of the year.

"We’re still trying to find our identity," Shoji said.

"Tai Manu-Olevao has really stepped up as a leader. Sarah Mendoza has been solid. Of course, the addition of Olivia Magill makes us a really good team."

Among those trying to fill Hartong’s void is freshman outside hitter Kalei Greeley, a Riverside native who experienced her homecoming Saturday night.

Greeley’s friends and family were ready. During the pre-match introductions, Greeley received the loudest reception of anyone on either team. Her fans waved white fans with her name and number and the "H" athletic insignia, as well as two large cardboard cutouts of her head. An orange plastic lei adorned one of those cutouts.

"It was like nervous excitement coming into this game," Greeley said. "I’ve been anticipating this game all summer. Words can’t describe it."

Greeley finished with 12 kills and a season-high 12 digs in her first career double-double. Manu-Olevao turned in her third double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs, and Mendoza finished with a match-high 20 digs.

"She’s been huge for us all year,’ Shoji said. "I saw a lot of potential in her, but I had no idea she could help us so soon. It’s been a very pleasant surprise."

Riverside surprised the Wahine starting with the first set, when the teams exchanged the lead twice and forced three ties early. But Greeley and Manu-Olevao led a 6-1 surge that turned a 4-3 deficit into a 9-5 lead. Manu-Olevao had a kill and a service ace, with Greeley adding a kill and a block.

Set 2 proved far more difficult.

UH trailed 11-7, moved into a 15-15 tie, then fell behind 20-17 and 23-21 before taking its first lead at 24-23. Riverside held off four set points before Manu-Olevao pummeled a kill between two blockers to ensure the win.

In a tight Set 3, the Wahine and Highlanders stayed within one point of each other from the time UCR held an 11-10 lead to the point where UH forged a 17-16 advantage. The Wahine used a 4-1 run to gain separation at 21-17.

The Highlanders closed to 22-19, but Magill’s tip, Megan Huff’s kill and Manu-Olevao’s kill enabled the Wahine to secure their fourth straight sweep.

"We didn’t play particularly well," Shoji said. "But we’re going to be a good team."

RAINBOW WAHINE (10-3, 2-0)

HIGHLANDERS (2-11, 0-1)

Key — s: games; k: kills; e: hitting errors; att: attempts; pct: hitting percentage; d: digs; bs: block solo; ba: block assists; pts: points (kills plus blocks plus aces). Service Aces — Hawaii 2 (Manu-Olevao, Ponce). UC Riverside none. Service errors — Hawaii 8 (Manu-Olevao 4, Higgins 2, Mendoza, Ponce). UC Riverside 10 (Reza 3, Press 2, Hubbell 2, Fung 2, Holmes). Assists — Hawaii 44 (Higgins 34, Koelsch 4, Mendoza 4, Manu-Olevao, Ponce). UC Riverside 36 (Press 32, Bruchet 2, Rosas, Hubbell). T — 1:46. A — 731. Referees — Burton Fuller, Greg Leung, D. Willis, B. Jensen

BIG WEST VOLLEYBALL

Saturday
Hawaii def. UC Riverside, 25-12, 29-27, 25-19
Long Beach State def. CSU Fullerton, 25-14, 25-15, 25-15
CSU Northridge def. UC Irvine, 23-25, 15-25, 25-16, 25-16, 16-14
UC Santa Barbara def. Cal Poly, 23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-11
Friday
CSU Fullerton at Hawaii, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center
UC Davis at Cal Poly
UR Riverside at UC Santa Barbara
Saturday
UC Irvine at Hawaii, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center
CSU Northridge at Long Beach State
UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara
UC Riverside at Cal Poly