Big Block and Anae’s Double-Double Power #19 Utah Past Hawaii (RV)

MATCH STATS

• #19 Utah def. Hawaii (RV) in four (20-25, 26-24, 25-15, 25-23)
• Utah moves to 5-1; Hawaii drops to 2-4
• Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Attendance: 6,948
• Box Score

Utah outside Adora Anae, who attended high school 40 miles from Hawaii’s Stan Sheriff Center, recorded a double-doubles to help the Utes defeat Hawaii in four sets, the program’s first-ever win over the Rainbow Wahine. In addition to Anae (19 kills, 16 digs), sophomore setter Bailey Choi (38 assists, 11 digs) and freshman outside Dani Barton (10 kills, 11 blocks) also notched double-doubles.

The match featured 34 total blocks, with two Utes leading the way: senior middle Tawnee Luafalemana (2 solo, 10 block assists) and freshman outside Dani Barton (11 block assists). Utah’s 19 total team blocks were the most in a match since 2012.

Senior middle Emily Maglio had seven block assists and one solo to lead Hawaii at the net. Other key contributors for the Rainbow Wahine included sophomore outside McKenna Granato (24 kills), sophomore setter Norene Iosia (30 assists) and Savanah Kahakai (20 digs).

Set one went to the Rainbow Wahine on the strength of a nine-point serving run by senior Gianna Guinasso that flipped a 19-14 deficit into a 23-19 advantage. In the second, Granato’s 14th kill of the match gave Hawaii a 19-18 edge, but Utah would win the deuce set 26-24 on a kill by Anae.

Set three was all Utah as the blocking of Barton and Luafalemana continued to frustrate the Hawaii offense, leading to a lopsided 25-15 victory. Down by a large margin in the fourth, Hawaii went on an 8-2 run to pull within 22-21, but back-to-back Barton kills out of a Utah timeout brought the Utes to set point and Anae closed out the match with her 19th kill.

Utes pick up first-ever win over Hawaii with 3-1 win over UH. Utah wins Rainbow Wahine Classic, going 3-0 on the weekend! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/c1EvowAveF

— Utah Volleyball (@UtahVolleyball) September 4, 2017

2017 Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic All-Tournament Team

• Adora Anae, Utah (MVP)
• Hayley Dotseth, South Dakota
• Emily Maglio, Hawaii
• Norene Iosia, Hawaii
• Berkeley Oblad, Utah
• McKenna Granato, Hawaii
• Bailey Choy, Utah

VIDEO

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc53x9gxVm8]

PRESS RELEASES

Courtesy: Utah Athletics

Double-Doubles from Anae, Barton and Choy lead #22 Utes Past Rainbow Wahine

Utes get first-ever volleyball win over Hawaii

HONOLULU – Utah’s Adora Anae and Dani Barton both recorded double-doubles while leading the No. 22-ranked Utes to a four-set win (20-25, 26-24, 25-15, 25-23) over Hawaii in the championship match of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic Sunday evening at Stan Sheriff Center.

The Utes (5-1) rallied from an 0-1 deficit to the Rainbow Wahine (2-4), winning the second, third and fourth sets to take the championship match of the tournament. Utah, who was 0-11 all-time when facing the Rainbow Wahine, picked up its first-ever win over Hawaii. It was Utah and Hawaii’s first match against each other since 2004.

Anae led the way with 19 kills and 16 digs for her second double-double of the season, while Barton totaled 10 kills with a team-best .375 hitting percentage and 11 total blocks for the first double-double of her career.

Bailey Choy recorded a double-double on the evening as well, collecting a team-high 38 assists and totaling 11 digs. It was Choy’s first double-double of the season and the 11th of her career.

Meanwhile, Utah hit just .163 overall in the match – its lowest output of the season – but the defense limited Hawaii to just a .113 effort, totaling 72 digs and 19.0 total team blocks in the match.

Utah’s 25-20 loss in the first set was just the second time the Utes had dropped a set all season. The Utes swept its first two opponents in the tournament this weekend.

After trailing 19-14 and then calling timeout, Hawaii used a 6-0 run late in the first set to take a 20-19 lead and then closed out the frame winning 11 of the final 12 points to take the frame 25-20. The Rainbow Wahine hit just .133 in the set, but limited Utah to just a .024 hitting percentage on the other side of the net.

The Utes came back to tie the match 1-1 after winning a back-and-forth second set, 26-24. Utah led 16-13 midway through the frame until a 6-2 run pushed Hawaii back into the lead, 19-18. The Utes countered with a 5-1 run and later closed the set with a kill from Anae.

Utah registered a combined .344 team hitting percentage, while limiting the Rainbow Wahine to a negative hitting percentage of -.059, on the way to powering its way to a 25-15 win in the third set. The Utes led by as many as 13 points, up 21-8, but Hawaii bounced back with a 7-2 run. Utah called timeout, up 23-15, and then closed out the frame with back-to-back kills from Lauga Gauta.

The Utes pushed its lead to 20-13 late in the fourth set, but Hawaii again countered, first calling timeout and then proceeding to go on an 8-2 run to get within a point of Utah, down 22-21. Barton followed with back-to-back blocks and Anae ended the match with her 19th kill of the evening to give Utah the victory.

Utah will make its home debut later this week, hosting the Utah Volleyball Classic this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8-9, at the Huntsman Center. The Utes will welcome No. 17 San Diego, Green Bay and Missouri to the two-day event.

MATCH NOTES
• Utah registered its first win over Hawaii in a series that dated back to 1980. Utah is now 1-11 all-time when facing the Rainbow Wahine and 1-5 against UH in Honolulu.
• Adora Anae (16), Shannon Scully (11), Bailey Choy (11) and Brianna Doehrmann (13) each recorded double-digit dig efforts.
• Both Tawnee Luafalemana (12 blocks) and Dani Barton (11 blocks) posted new season/career-high block efforts. The duo became the first pair of Utes to record at least 10 blocks in a single match since Emillie Toone (14) and Lori Baird (13) did so back on Oct. 14, 2006, against Wyoming.
• It was the first time at least one Utah player recorded at least 11 total blocks in a single match since Sept. 5, 2015 (Brenna DeYoung, 11 blocks, at Gonzaga).
• Utah tallied a season-high 19.0 total team blocks. It was Utah’s first time to record 19.0 team blocks in a match since Nov. 16, 2012, at Arizona State.

Courtesy: Hawaii Athletics

Game Recap: Women’s Volleyball | 09.03.2017

No. 22 Utah Holds Off Hawai‘i, 3-1

HONOLULU—Coming off of two-straight wins, the University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team was looking to even its record to 3-3. But No. 22 Utah thwarted UH’s efforts to by holding off the Rainbow Wahine in four sets, 20-25, 26-24, 25-15, 25-23 on Sunday afternoon at the Stan Sheriff Center. With the win, Utah captured the 2017 Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic, going undefeated in the three-match tournament. The Rainbow Wahine fell to 2-4 overall while Utah improved to 5-1.

Junior outside hitter McKenna Granato led the ‘Bows with a match-high 24 kills. Fellow junior outside hitter Casey Castillo came in second with eight kills and a career-high 10 digs with three blocks. Senior middle hitter Emily Maglio led the team in blocks as she had a hand in eight of the team’s 15 rejections. Maglio also chipped in with seven kills. Sophomore setter Norene Iosia was one dig shy of notching a double-double with  39 assists and nine digs while senior libero Savanah Kahakai recorded a team-high 23 digs. Senior defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson also tied her career-high with 10 digs against the Utes.

Hawai’i and Utah came ready for a battle, both teams trading the lead until the eighth point in the first set. From there, the Utes reeled off six-straight points that left the ‘Bows trailing 14-8. But UH fought all the way back, rallying to steal the first set. Behind the serving of senior defensive specialist Gianna Guinasso, UH went on a nine point run late to take a 23-19 lead.  Hawai’i then closed out the set, winning the last two points, 25-20. UH won 11 of the last 12 points.

The second set was a battle which saw 12 ties and four lead changes. But in the end, Utah came back to nab Set 2, 26-24.

The ‘Bows faltered coming out of intermission, losing the third set 25-15. The Utes went on an eight point run and scored 14 out of 15 points during the middle of the set. The Utes lead by as much as 13 points at 21-8 before the ‘Bows rallied to close their deficit late in the frame.

The Rainbow Wahine fought to extend the match to five sets, but fell just short, losing the fourth set, 25-23. Hawai’i went on a scoring run late in the set, winning eight out of 10 points at one point. But Utah held off the charging ‘Bows to win the tournament, 25-23.

The Utes were led by senior outside hitter Adora Anae–who was voted the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player–with 19 kills, 16 digs and three blocks. Freshman outside hitter Dani Barton contributed 10 kills and 11 blocks. Leading the Utes in blocks was senior middle blocker Tawnee Luafalemana with a hand in 12 of the team total 19.

Next on the schedule for the Rainbow Wahine is their final non-conference tournament of the season, the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge. The first match against No. 10 BYU is set for Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. Also competing in the three-day tournament is Baylor and Nevada.

2017 Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic All-Tournament Team
Hayley Dotseth (South Dakota)
Emily Maglio (Hawai’i)
Norene Iosia (Hawai’i)
Berkley Oblad (Utah)
Bailey Choy (Utah)
McKenna Granato (Hawai’i)

Most Outstanding Player – Adora Anae (Utah)