Women’s Volleyball Sweeps Past Cal State Fullerton – University of Hawai’i at Manoa Athletics

HONOLULU — A new-look lineup propelled the University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team to a bounce-back victory — and first sweep of the season — in a 25-17, 25-13, 25-15 win over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
After dropping their Big West opener against UC Irvine in a five-set stunner on Friday, the Rainbow Wahine (7-5, 1-1) rebounded with their most efficient hitting performance and quickest match of the season.
 
Coming off a career-high 16-kill performance against UC Irvine, Miliana Sylvester broke out to a 12-for-12 start through two sets on Saturday on her way to a match-high 14 kills on 17 attempts. Her .765 hitting percentage was the highest for a UH attacker since Tiffany Westerberg hit .800 (12 kills, 15 attempts) against UC Irvine on Oct. 7, 2022. Sylvester was also in on three blocks, including a solo stuff in the first set.
 
Sylvester was among three freshmen who started Saturday’s match and four who saw playing time. Maddie Way rotated with Sylvester in the middle in her first career start and hit .412 with eight kills on 17 swings with three blocks. Adrianna Arquette, whose versatility led to Hawai’i high school player of the year honors a year ago, also made her first start at opposite and finished with five kills, three assists, seven digs and two aces.
 

Back set BOOM 🤯#GoBows #SISTAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/Q9g6IhavO4

— Hawaii W. Volleyball (@HawaiiWVB) September 29, 2024

 
Senior setter Kate Lang posted her seventh double-double of the season with 32 assists and 11 digs and directed a UH attack that hit a season-best .381 with a season-low nine attack errors.  Sophomore outside hitter Tali Hakas added 10 kills and senior libero Tayli Ikenaga finished with 11 digs for the ‘Bows, who played without kills leader Caylen Alexander.

UH improved to 50-0 in the all-time series with Cal State Fullerton and snapped a four-game losing streak.
 
Cal State Fullerton (4-8, 0-2) led 11-10 in the first set before UH surged ahead with a 6-2 run sparked by Sylvester’s solo block and Arquette’s first career ace. Freshman defensive specialist Victoria Leyva contributed some offense when her free ball ticked off the tape and hit the floor for her first career kill. UH extended the lead to 22-15 and went on to close out the set on a kill from Stella Adeyemi.
 
Sylvester’s personal run reached 10 for 10 and UH rolled to a 15-9 lead in the second set. Arquette, who was recruited as a setter, put away her first kill of the night then dished out an assist to Hakas on the next point to stretch the lead to 18-10.

Sylvester put down set point for her 12^th kill in as many attempts before her run ended early in the third set. UH took command with an 8-1 run highlighted by two kills from Way and an ace by Jackie Matias. The ‘Bows continued to pull away and Arquette punctuated the win with her fifth kill.
 

📌 point accuracy#GoBows #SISTAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/lDqYkLCtQO

— Hawaii W. Volleyball (@HawaiiWVB) September 29, 2024

 
The Rainbow Wahine head to California for their first Big West road trip of the season and face UC San Diego on Oct. 4 in La Jolla, Calif., and Long Beach State on Oct. 5 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach.
 

#HawaiiWVB