Match Results
- Hawaii def. Western Carolina 3-0, (25-15, 25-14, 25-13)
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic
- Attendance: 5,413
- Match Stats
Hawaii picked up their first win of the season over Western Carolina in a quick three set sweep at home. The win gives new Hawaii head coach, Robyn Ah Mow-Santos her first career win.
The Rainbow Wahine outhit WCU .259 to -.986 and used strong net defense with 13 blocks to stop Western Carolina in their tracks.
The first set of the match began as an equal campaign for the squads, trading off points early. However, Hawaii stepped up their play late to take a lead, keeping it until they took the set 25-15. The match allowed Hawaii to use some younger players throughout the second and third sets, with Sophia Howling, Kirsten Sibley and Faith Ma’afala getting in some court time.
The final two sets of the match were a blow out for the Rainbow Wahine, as they commanded the court over Western Carolina to complete the sweep.
For Hawaii, McKenna Granato put down a team-best eight kills and eight digs while setter Norene Iosia dished out 22 assists and 13 digs for a double-double. Iosia also contributed to the strong Hawaiian block, adding four along with Emily Maglio‘s five blocks and Casey Castillo‘s three.
Leading Western Carolina was Gabby Gray with eight kills and seven digs while Meagan Sanchez picked up a team-best nine digs.
Press Release
Courtesy of Hawaii Athletics
The University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team (1-3) was looking for their first win of the season in their opening match of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic. They got the win they were looking for against Western Carolina in a sweep, 25-15, 25-14. 25-13, to give head coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos her first win of her career. Hawai’i out-hit WCU, .259-to–.086 and UH recorded 13 total blocks against the Catamounts on Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Junior outside hitter McKenna Granato led the Rainbow Wahine with eight kills, two service aces and eight digs. Senior middle hitter Emily Maglio and freshman middle hitter Skyler Williams tied for the most blocks with five each, while junior outside hitter Casey Castillo came in a close second in kills with seven and three blocks. Sophomore setter Norene Iosia recorded a double-double with 22 assists and a team-high 13 digs. Overall, UH had seven different players notch at least two kills with 13 different Rainbow Wahine seeing action in the three-set match.
The first set started out as an equal match for both teams. They traded points early in the frame, but UH started to pull away with the set. They took the first set 25-15. This set was the first time senior defensive specialist Gianna Guinasso got to see the court this season.
The ‘Bows came out strong, taking the lead early in the second set and never looked back for a 25-14 win. Freshman middle hitter Sophia Howling and sophomore outside hitter Kirsten Sibley both made their second appearance of the season. Howling getting her first kill and first block.
Howling got her first set start of her collegiate career in the third set. Howling ended the night with two kills and two blocks. Junior setter Faith Ma’afala also got to see her first time on the court after redshirting last season to chip in a pair of assists.
For the Western Carolina Catamounts, freshman outside hitter Gabby Gray led the way with eight kills, seven digs and a block. Senior middle hitter Katie O’Connor led in blocks with three. As a team, they ended the night with a hitting percentage of -.086.
Next up the Rainbow Wahine look to keep their winning streak alive in their match on Sept. 1 against South Dakota at 7 p.m.
Press Release
Courtesy of Western Carolina Athletics
The Western Carolina volleyball team hit the road at 3:30 am Thursday morning to begin its trek to USA’s 50th state for the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic. The Catamounts landed on the island nearly 16 hours later and took to the court just shy of 22 hours after leaving Cullowhee to face the host team, University of Hawai’i. The Rainbow Wahine, who dropped out of the AVCA top-25 for just the 11th week since the poll began back 1982, would have been a tough opponent regardless of the travel but after being on the road for nearly 24 hours when the match ended the Catamounts were unable to pick up a victory.
WCU fought hard throughout the match and kept the Rainbow Wahine on their toes for most of the opening set before falling 25-15. The second set was once again close early before Hawai’i pulled away for a 25-14 win. The Rainbow Wahine would clinch the three-set victory with a strong 25-13 third set win.
The Catamounts were playing without their senior leader and setter Jo-Leigh VerVelde but freshman Hannah Price stepped in to deliver 16 assists, three digs and a kill in her absence. Freshman Gabby Gray was WCU’s best offensive threat as she put down eight kills while digging up seven balls.
Freshman MaKenzie White added four kills to finish second on the squad while adding a pair of blocks. Sophomore libero Meagan Sanchez dug up a team-high nine balls on the defensive front.
WCU struggled getting through the Hawai’i defense and hit just -.086 as a team on the day while the Rainbow Wahine swung at a .259 clip and registered 13 blocks.
The Catamounts will rest up from their long day of travel and prepare to take on No. 22 Utah at 10:45 pm (EST)/4:45 pm (HAST) Friday evening. The Utes downed South Dakota 3-0 in their first match of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic.
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