Hawaii had an up and down week to say the least. It started with a high in a victory over #12 Cal Poly to move ahead in the Big West standings by one match win, but ended with a loss to UC Santa Barbara. Adding to it – and likely contributing to the loss – was that the Rainbow Wahine were without starting outside hitter Casey Castillo.
In the match prior to the one with UCSB, Castillo appeared in just one set and had four attempts with one error and no kills. In reaching out to Hawaii, VolleyMob was told that she was not medically cleared on Saturday and is currently awaiting evaluation from a doctor. Her timetable for return is therefore unknown.
Castillo had started the team’s first 20 matches of the season. In that time, the senior from Oceanside notched 151 kills (2.19 per set) on a .197 clip, 53 digs (0.77 per set) and 19 blocks (0.28 per set).
Starting in Castillo’s absence was McKenna Ross, a junior outside hitter from Aliso Viejo, California. She actually wound up leading the team in kills (9) while hitting .200 and adding 7 digs in the team’s loss to UCSB. She also had 8 kills (.069) and 2 blocks in finishing out the match against Cal Poly for the upset.
Ross had previously appeared in 15 matches, but none as a starter. She had notched 49 kills (1.44 per set) on a .127 clip and 32 digs (0.94 per set).
In total this season, Hawaii is 14-7 and 10-2 as a member of the Big West. Their season continues on the road on Friday at CSUN before they play at Pepperdine on Saturday.
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