Rainbow Wahine volleyball team eliminated by Nebraska in NCAA regional semifinal
ANDY MANIS / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
Hawaii’s Tiffany Westerberg (11) and Amber Igiede look to block a shot by Nebraska’s Lexi Sun (11) during the first set of an NCAA regional semifinal game today in Madison, Wis.
MADISON, Wis. >> No. 18 Hawaii’s season came to a cold end Friday, swept by No. 5 Nebraska 29-27, 25-22, 25-19 in the NCAA volleyball tournament third round at the Wisconsin Fieldhouse.
Junior hitter Brooke Van Sickle had 14 kills and senior hitter McKenna Ross added 10 for the Rainbow Wahine (26-4) who have not advanced to the fourth round since 2015. Senior setter-hitter Norene Iosia, the Big West Player of the Year, finished her career with her 20th double-double of the season (19 assists-13 digs) as well as six kills. Senior setter Bailey Choy had 19 assists and four digs.
>> See photos of the game in our photo gallery.
Lexi Sun had 14 kills and Jazz Sweet added 12 for Nebraska (28-4), which will see Big Ten rival Wisconsin in Saturday’s fourth round. The winner will advance to next week’s final four in Pittsburgh.
The Huskers extended their winning streak to five when snapping the Wahine’s win streak at 13. Nebraska was swept by the Badgers twice during the regular season.
It was just the third time this season that Hawaii had been swept. The other also came on the road at Baylor and at Cal Poly.
Wisconsin won its 13th in a row at home earlier today, 25-20, 25-17, 25-23 over Texas A&M.
