Perfect.
As in record (5-0).
As in Sky Williams’ night (9-for-9).
And wire-to-wire? Almost perfect.
Except for falling behind 1-0 in Set 3, No. 20 Hawaii never trailed in the 92 minutes of Friday’s Heineken Volleyball Invitational match.
Williams, a junior middle, and freshman middle Amber Igiede each had nine kills, and the Rainbow Wahine had three blocks in their final four points while picking up their first sweep of the season, 25-19, 25-17, 25-18, in front of 4,306 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawaii, off to its best start since also opening 5-0 in 2015, goes for its 10th title in this event on Sunday. The Wahine meet Denver (5-0) in a true title match at 4 p.m.
>> Click here to see photos of the match between Hawaii and Sacramento State.
The Pioneers remained undefeated by sweeping Army 25-20, 25-21, 29-27 in Friday’s first match. The Black Knights (3-2) face the Hornets (2-4) in today’s de facto third-place match at 11 a.m.
“It was better than last night,” Hawaii coach Robyn Ah Mow said, referring to the less-than-crisp showing against Army on Thursday. “Our passing was better. There was a better all-around effort.
“And there’s always an effort to set the middle. That depends on the passing.”
The passing was sharp enough that Hawaii’s starting middles, Williams and Igiede, had no errors in a combined 25 swings. On the night, the Wahine had just six hitting errors, finishing at .345.
“It feels awesome to be 5-0,” said Igiede, who had one kill and hit negative .200 against the Black Knights on Thursday. “For me, I think a number of things changed. I think I was tense and the coaches told me to relax. I did.”
Hawaii opened relaxed, rolling out to a 6-0 lead in Set 1 behind the serving of freshman Riley Wagoner. Williams and Igiede combined for 12 of the Wahine’s 16 kills with no errors, with Williams going 8-for-8.
Sac State pulled to within 20-18 and 21-19, but Hawaii used a 4-0 closing run that included junior hitter Jolie Rasmussen’s first kill and the Wahine’s first block.
Hawaii again started strong in Set 2, going up 4-0, and the Wahine middle attack matched it. Williams put down her ninth without an error and Igiede added another two as Hawaii jumped out 17-8. Williams, who had a career-high 13 kills in Thursday’s victory over Army, gave way to freshman middle Braelyn Akana. The daughter of former Wahine Joselyn Robins Akana (1993-96) wasn’t medically cleared to participate until Thursday. Akana, wearing her mother’s uniform number (14), was blocked on her first attempt but put down her second to make it 19-13.
“It was really fun tonight,” said Akana, finishing with two kills and two blocks. “I was a little nervous, but Coach Rob (Ah Mow) makes sure we’re always ready to go in. It was exciting.”
Set 3 was perhaps more exciting than the Wahine wanted as their comfortable 19-13 lead was whittled to 19-16. Rasmussen’s eighth kill made it 20-17, sending senior setter Bailey Choy back for an extended serving run.
Three consecutive blocks, including a solo by Rasmussen, pushed Hawaii to the brink. The match ended on a service error by Sac State’s McKenna Smith.
Macey Hayden finished with a match-high 12 kills for the Hornets and Kayla Subbert added 10. Smith finished with a double-double (19 assists, 10 digs) and Paige Swinney 18 digs.
All five of Hawaii’s freshman played for the first time this season and two led the way in digs: Wagoner with 11 and Hanna Hellvig 10.
“Getting that sweep feels good,” Ah Mow said. “It’s always good to take care of business and get out.”
Denver 3, Army 0
Senior hitter Amanda Green had team highs of 10 kills and 12 digs as the Pioneers remained undefeated with their fourth straight sweep. Freshman middle Brianna Green was in on nine of Denver’s 11 blocks.
Army got 10 kills from senior hitter Allie Strong, 12 digs from junior libero Ana Oglivie (‘Iolani) and 14 assists from senior setter Nikki Lum (Punahou).
