The warning signs were up at Livermore Community Park: Caution. Rattlesnakes In Area.
The only things that got bit on Friday were Hawaii’s two Big West Challenge opponents.
The third-ranked Rainbow Wahine (20-3) swept through their opening-day matches in Folsom, Calif., setting a program record in doing so. The SandBows defeated Cal State Bakersfield 5-0 in their opener, breaking the 2015 mark of 13 straight, then went 5-0 against Cal State Northridge to extend their streak to 15.
Hawaii has now won five of its past six via sweep. On Friday, the SandBows did not drop a set in reaching their second consecutive 20-win season.
“We’re stoked that we’re playing well,” Hawaii coach Jeff Hall said in a telephone call. “We played like we should, were hungry for every point instead of looking ahead to Saturday.”
The SandBows have a challenging schedule today, opening with No. 6 Cal Poly (16-2), followed by host Sacramento State, then No. 5 Long Beach State (15-1), the defending event champion. The 49ers defeated Hawaii last season and “it affected us for the next few weeks, until we saw them again in the Big West tournament,” Hall said. “We haven’t been at our best in the third dual historically when we’ve played three. Hopefully, having it be the 49ers fires us up.”
COLLEGIATE BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Big West Challenge
At Folsom, Calif.
All times HST
Today
>> No. 3 Hawaii (20-3) vs. No. 6 Cal Poly (16-2), 6 a.m.
>> No. 3 Hawaii vs. Sac State (1-9), 9 a.m.
>> No. 3 Hawaii vs. No. 5 Long Beach State (15-1), 3 p.m.
Rado/TV: None
Because of the need to catch a flight on Sunday, Hawaii is the only team playing a tripleheader today. Long Beach State had a bye Friday.
All-American Emily Maglio and Ka’iwi Schucht, the reigning national and conference pairs of the week playing at Flight 1, ran their winning streak to 11, three shy of tying the program record. The mark is shared by Ari Homayun-Carly Kan (2017) and Maglio-Katie Spieler (2016).
The pairs of Homayun-Amy Ozee (Flight 4) and Paige Dreeuws-Hannah Zalopany (Flight 5) have both won nine in a row.