Hawaii solves Pepperdine on senior night

Anticlimactic in the best, somewhat unexpected, way.

No. 6 Hawaii didn’t need to wait on the outcome of its top two pairs to start the senior-night celebration. Courtesy of a huge win at Flight 3, the Rainbow Wahine had clinched Saturday’s collegiate beach volleyball dual with No. 2 Pepperdine long before the lights came on, television began its broadcast of the final two flights, and the nearly full moon rose over the Ching Complex courts.

Emily Maglio took a pass from partner Laurel Weaver, slamming it down on two to end a long rally for a 21-18, 23-21 victory over the Waves’ Skylar Caputo and Heidi Dyer. It gave the SandBows a 3-0 lead in the best-of-five dual, just their second win over the Waves in 11 meetings.

The 4-1 final also gave Hawaii (21-5) a program-best 21 victories, adding to the sweetness of a day where four seniors — Nikki Taylor, Mikayla Tucker, Sydney Shinn and Tayler Higgins — were honored. The SandBows conclude the regular season next Friday and Saturday with duals against Saint Mary’s at the Ching Complex, then head to Pismo Beach, Calif., to defend their Big West championship April 28-29.

Weaver said she felt the momentum from Carly Kan and Ari Homayun’s win at Flight 4 on the adjacent court, which concluded some five minutes before Weaver-Maglio had their first match point at 20-19. The Waves would rally, taking set point at 21-20, only to have Hawaii rally with three straight points to finish it.

“I had played against Pepperdine when I was at UCLA and we won 3-2 last year,” said Weaver, who transferred this season to Manoa. “I wanted to capture that same feeling.

“That last point, I knew Emily would be clutch as she always is.”

Said Maglio: “It felt good. It was our turn to win.”

Weaver-Maglio lost to Caputo-Dyer 21-15, 21-16 on March 29 at Zuma Beach, Calif., and 21-14, 21-16 on Friday at the Ching Complex. Pepperdine won both the duals 3-2.

Saturday was the first time that Hawaii defeated a higher-ranked team this season.

“It feels awesome and it makes a statement,” SandBows coach Jeff Hall said. “It’s been a tough week, but overcoming adversity is what life’s all about.”

Hall pointed to the first point of the day coming at Flight 5 when Amy Ozee and Hannah Zalopany swept Kaity Bailey and Sarah Seiber 21-17, 21-18. It was only the third time that Ozee and Zalopany were paired, the second time being Friday’s 21-16, 21-17 loss to the Waves.

“It was great to pick up that first point for our team,” said Ozee, a freshman out of Seabury Hall. “This was a big win. They’re No. 2.”

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