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UH wins Big West beach volleyball championship

Cindy Luis
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COURTESY BIG WEST CONFERENCE

Top-seeded Hawaii defeated second-seeded Long Beach State 3-2 today to win the inaugural Big West beach volleyball championship in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Top-seeded Hawaii defeated second-seeded Long Beach State 3-2 today to win the inaugural Big West beach volleyball championship in Huntington Beach, Calif.

The Rainbow Wahine (16-8) clinched the dual victory and the title at the No. 1 flight when Katie Spieler and Emily Maglio rallied for a 14-21, 21-11, 15-11 win over the 49ers’ Nele Barbara and Rachel Nieto.

It was the fourth time Hawaii had defeated Long Beach State (13-14) this season, including this morning’s 3-2 victory in the winners bracket semifinal. The 49ers then had to beat Cal State Northridge in the contenders bracket to earn a rematch with the SandBows for the championship.

Hawaii’s other wins in today’s final came at No. 2 (Nikki Taylor and Ka’iwi Schucht), 21-17, 21-9, and at No. 4 (Ginger Long-Mikayla Tucker), 21-17, 21-19.

The losses were at No. 3 (Lara Schreiber-Hannah Zalopany), 21-11, 21-16, and No. 5 (Ari Homayun-Hannah Rooks), 18-21, 21-16, 15-9).

Hawaii expects to receive an at-large bid into next week’s NCAA championship at Gulf Shores, Alabama. The selection show is Sunday on NCAA.com at 4 p.m. Hawaii time.

11 responses to “UH wins Big West beach volleyball championship”

  1. Pacificsports says:

    Looks like the Championship game might be televised. Go Bows!

  2. paniolo says:

    Congratulations…Bring the NCAA Championship home, too.

  3. honupono says:

    Go Na Wahine !!

  4. 808comp says:

    Good luck in Alabama. Have a safe trip. GO BOWS !!!!!

  5. den says:

    why Alabama?
    I wouldn’t call that place the beach volleyball capital of the world.

    • 808comp says:

      I guess nice beach and resort area. NCAA weird.

    • jcole says:

      Right! And lots of the surrounding area hasn’t been rebuilt from Katrina yet. Bring the championships to Hawai`i.

    • Eradication says:

      Alabama has piles of money from football revenues to put on a good show. Most schools would struggle financially.

    • jonathkc says:

      It’s entirely because of hotel prices. A California venue would be way better attended since beach volleyball is most popular in SoCal anyway. Most of the qualifying schools will have cheaper flights to la than to Alabama. But the ncaa doesn’t want to pay la hotel prices so Alabama it is! ????????????

  6. Wonna says:

    Good job(s) ladies,

    Conference champs now –
    National champs later!

    Make Hawaii proud.

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