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ANTHONY BOLANTE / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
The Rainbow Wahine volleyball team waved to the crowd after losing to Illinois.
SEATTLE >> Senior middle Emily Maglio had 18 kills and junior hitter McKenna Granato added 15, but it was not enough, as Hawaii was eliminated from the NCAA volleyball tournament tonight, falling to Illinois 25-18, 25-17, 13-25, 24-26, 15-10 in a first-round match at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
Senior libero Savanah Kahakai finished with 14 digs, moving her to No. 2 on the all-time digs list (1,417) as the Rainbow Wahine (20-8) made their earliest exit from the postseason tournament since 1997, when Hawaii was swept by Loyola Marymount in the first round at Long Beach State. It also was the third consecutive year that Hawaii’s season was ended by a team from the Big Ten and the fourth time in eight years the Wahine were ousted from the tournament here on Washington’s home court.
Sophomore middle Natasha Burns added 13 kills and Granato finished with a career-high 21 digs. Six of Hawaii’s eight losses this season came in five sets.
Sophomore hitter Jaqueline Quade led Illinois (22-10) with 15 kills.
The Fighting Illini will take on the winner of tonight’s second match between No. 8 seed Washington and LIU Brooklyn.
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