Hawaii, HI—The University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team pushed its winning streak to three with a dramatic five-set victory over Portland on Thursday night at Bank of Hawai’i Arena inside the Stan Sheriff Center.
In a match filled with momentum swings and standout performances, the Rainbow Wahine emerged victorious with set scores of 26-24, 21-25, 25-10, 25-27, and 15-11.
Hawai’i entered the contest with a significant challenge, having recently announced that All-Big West outside hitter Tali Hakas would miss the rest of the season due to a right shoulder injury suffered during the opening weekend. Despite the setback, the Wahine stepped up, showcasing resilience against a seasoned Portland squad featuring multiple Hawai’i ties — including four players and three coaches.
Defense was the difference-maker for Hawai’i, who racked up an impressive 18 team blocks. Libero Victoria Leyva anchored the defensive effort with 17 digs, while setter Adrianna Arquette delivered a strong all-around performance, tallying 43 assists and 14 digs.
With the win, Hawai’i improved its overall record to 3-4, while Portland dropped to 5-2. Bri Gunderson and Miliana Sylvester both came up big at the net with nine blocks each, combining for 18 kills. Cha’lei Reid also had a standout night, matching that total with 18 kills of her own.
The two teams will wrap up their two-match series Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
