MATCH STATS
- Marquette def. #20 Hawaii 3-2 (24-26, 25-21, 25-18, 18-25, 15-12)
- Marquette moves to 1-0; #20 Hawaii drops to 0-1
- Honolulu, Hawaii (Texaco Rainbow Wahine Invitational)
- Box Score
Honolulu, Hawaii – In Hawaii’s first match without Dave Shoji and Robyn Ah Mow-Santos at the helm, #20 Hawaii was unable to hold home court advantage in their season opener as Marquette scored a top-25 five-set victory.
The win gives notice to Marquette, who has built a solid and consistent program over the years but lost some expectations when All-American Taylor Louis transferred out of the program to Iowa. That only compounded with outside hitter Amanda Green departing for Louisville. However, the Golden Eagles are showing that they have plenty left, led by Allie Barber, for a team that might crack the top 25 if they can finish off the weekend positively.
The Rainbow Wahine came out ahead after the first set as Emily Maglio led the team with 14 kills on a .312 hitting clip to go with her seven blocks. From there, Marquette rolled to a 2-1 set lead behind the arm of Barber, who had 22 kills to lead the match.
Hawaii would force a fifth in front of their home crowd, but it was Marquette coming out with all the energy and a 7-0 lead. Although Hawaii would tie the match at a dozen, the Golden Eagles would end the set how they finished it – with a spurt of points as they took the set 15-12.
Neither team hit at a high rate with opening jitters, as both were held to .130 or less. Where Hawaii out-blocked Marquette 18-13, the Golden Eagles out-aced the Rainbow Wahine 10-5. Lauren Speckman distributed 50 assists for Marquette while 6’6″ middle blocker Jenna Rosenthal posted 10 kills and nine blocks.
In a losing effort for Hawaii, junior outside hitter McKenna Granato logged 13 kills and 11 digs as freshman middle blocker Skyler Williams made her name known in her debut with six kills and a match-best 12 blocks.
Both teams remain in Honolulu for a pair more of matches. Marquette looks to build off their win with another against a ranked opponent in UCLA while Hawaii takes on San Diego before the two opponents swap.
PRESS RELEASES
Courtesy of Marquette Volleyball:
Aug. 26, 2017
HONOLULU — For the third straight year the Marquette volleyball team has opened the season with a road victory over a top-25 ranked opponent as the Golden Eagles bested No. 20 Hawaii in a close, five-set battle on Friday night in the 2017 season opener.
MU took down the host Rainbow Wahine 3-2 (24-26, 25-21, 25-18, 18-25, 15-12) led by a career-high 22 kills from sophomore Allie Barber. Freshman Hope Werch put a stamp on her collegiate debut with 12 kills, five dis and three blocks, while redshirt junior Jenna Rosenthall added 10 kills and nine blocks.
Sophomore setter Lauren Speckman dished out a career-high 50 assists with six digs and six blocks, while freshman Martha Konovodoff earned a start at libero and collected 18 digs with four aces.
After losing a lead in the first set, falling 26-24 to Hawaii, MU rebounded in the second frame with a 25-21 victory. It was tight down to the wire after the Rainbow Wahine used a 7-0 run to take a 21-20 lead. An ace from Speckman and kill from Barber helped close the second set as the Golden Eagles used a 5-0 run to finish and even the match.
Marquette couldn’t close out the match in the fourth set as Hawaii earned a 25-18 win, so the match went to a decisive fifth set. Abby Julian served to a 7-0 lead in the final frame, but Hawaii came back to even the score at 12-12 before the Golden Eagles closed out with three consecutive points as Rosenthal and Barber earned the match-winning point with a block.
Marquette continues the Rainbow Wahine Tournament on Saturday, August 26 at 9:45 p.m. CT when the squad takes on No. 13 UCLA.
Courtesy of Hawaii volleyball:
HONOLULU—The No. 20 University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team fell in a five set heartbreaker in their season opener against Marquette, 24-26, 25-21, 25-18, 18-25, 15-12. Under the new leadership of head coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, the Rainbow Wahine battled all night, but unfortunately fell short in their comeback bid at the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday night.
Senior middle hitter Emily Maglio lead the ‘Bows with 14 kills—seven after sliding over to play outside hitter from the fourth set on. Junior outside hitter McKenna Granato added 13 kills, a service ace, and 11 digs for her fourth career double-double. Freshman middle hitter Skyler Williams made an immediate impact in her first collegiate match, leading the Manoa Roofing Company with a match-high 12 blocks. Setter Norene Iosia dished out 47 assists with a match-high three service aces whie Savanah Kahakai had a match-high 18 digs. As a team Hawai’i hit at .130, had five service aces and 18 blocks.
The first set was a battle for the Rainbow Wahine as Marquette kept it close. After trading the lead back and forth, the Wahine were able to secure it again at 23-22 after a six point run on Granato’s serve. A block by Williams and sophomore outside hitter McKenna Ross tied the match at 22-22. A service ace by Granato took the 23-22 lead. Marquette continued to fight back but the Wahine took the match 26-24.
The Wahine faltered in the second set, trailing until a seven point run late in the set got them the lead for the first time. Senior outside hitter Kendra Koelsch won a joust at the net to tie the game at 20-20. A block by Koelsh and Williams got the lead 21-20. But the lead was short lived as Marquette went on a five point run to take the second set going away, 25-21.
The third set was another loss for the Wahine who trailed almost the entire set. A kill by Granato tied the set at eight and Marquette took the set from there winning 25-18.
The fourth set saw a line up changes which spurred UH to force a deciding fifth set. Maglio saw her first action as an outside hitter in her four year career. Junior Casey Castillo, who started the match at outside hitter, slid over to play middle. Maglio on the outside made a large difference with five kills, leading the Wahine to their 25-18 win.
Marquette jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fifth set. But the Rainbow Wahine were able to battle back to tie the game at 12-12. Marquette went on a run that got them the set 15-12 and the match.
Marquette was lead by sophomore outside hitter Allie Barber with 22 kills and eight digs. Freshman outside hitter Hope Werch also contributed 12 kills. Marquette was lead fierce on the net with middle hitter Jenna Rosenthal having the team high of nine blocks. Marquette finished hitting at .128 with 10 service aces and 13 blocks.
The Rainbow Wahine will challenge No. 22 San Diego on Day Two of the Texaco Rainbow Wahine Invitational at 7 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center.
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