NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — The University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team will return home with a split of its first Big West road trip of the season after being swept by CSUN on Saturday at Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine (6-9, 2-2 Big West) saw the host Matadors (9-6, 2-2) record 13 blocks and CSUN posted its first win over UH since 2014 in the 25-21, 25-21, 25-12 decision.
UH middle blocker Miliana Sylvester finished an efficient road trip with eight kills in 18 attempts to hit .389. The sophomore posted a total of 19 kills with a .395 hitting percentage in UH’s win at CSU Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday’s match at CSUN.
Tyla Reese Mane matched Sylvester for team-high honors with eight kills and middle blocker Maddie Way added seven kills in 17 attempts.
Setter Adrianna Arquette finished with 23 assists and libero Victoria Leyva had a team-high eight digs.
Amaris Smith led CSUN with a match-high 12 kills and the Matadors hit a collective .333 while ending UH’s 18-match winning streak in the series between the programs.
CSUN opened the match with an 8-3 surge to prompt am early UH timeout. The Matadors led by as many as seven at 16-9 as UH worked to chip away. The ‘Bows closed to within two at 21-19 after an ace from Leyva and a CSUN error. The Matadors kept UH from getting any closer and traded sideouts to take the set.
The second set was tied at 11-11 when CSUN sent back four blocks in a span of five points to take control at 16-12. UH would get no closer than three the rest of the way and Smith closed out the set to give CSUN a 2-0 lead in the match.
As in the first set, CSUN moved ahead early in the third and led 13-6 after another block. The Matadors continued to pull away and earned match point with their 13th block before closing out the match.
The Rainbow Wahine return to Manoa for a two-match homestand against two of the Big West’s early contenders. UH faces Cal Poly on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center and takes on UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 12 at 5 p.m.
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