Hawai’i drops four-setter to UC Davis, lose Reid to injury

HONOLULU – If it isn’t one thing, it’s another with the Rainbow Wahine.

A depleted University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team had another nightmare Saturday, falling in four sets to UC Davis (6-4, 3-0 Big West) inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, (23-25, 25-23, 12-25, 13-25). Without two starting outside hitters already, the Rainbow Wahine watched as star freshman Cha’lei Reid crumpled to the floor in the fourth set after getting mixed up with the net stanchion, exiting and not returning to the match after recording her ninth career game with 10+ kills.

Sophomore Miliana Sylvester led the Rainbow Wahine with 11 kills, her second straight match with double-figure putdowns to lead off Big West play. The middle blocker committed just one attacking error on 16 swings, good for a .625 hitting percentage, and got hands on four blocks throughout the night.

One night after recording the program’s first triple-double since 2018, setter/outside Adrianna Arquette tallied six kills, 20 assists, seven digs, two blocks and a pair of service aces as she continued her all-around efforts. Sophomore Maddie Way added five kills on 18 swings while getting her hand on five blocks of her own in the loss by Hawai’i.

The Rainbow Wahine battled back-and-forth with the Aggies in the opening frame, trading the lead up to a 23-all tie that ultimately allowed the visitors from UC Davis to take the final two rallies and secure the 1-0 set lead.

Set 2 provided a near-carbon copy of the first stanza, seeing both sides grind out every rally as to not let go of the rope and allow too large of an advantage to the other. Hawai’i eventually pulled through as Arquette and Way combined at the net to deny an offering from UCD’s Jade Light and knot the match at one set apiece.

The Aggies came out of the brief intermission following set two with a fury, firing on all cylinders as they dominated the Rainbow Wahine in the third frame to the tune of a 25-12 smackdown. Both sides traded points to begin the fourth stanza, but Hawai’i ran out of gas on the second night of a back-to-back after Reid exited with an injury to her leg, falling 25-13 to drop the match in four sets.

UC Davis outside hitter Brooke Hibino led all players with 15 kills on 32 swings, committing five attack errors throughout the night. Jade Light added 12 kills, six digs and a pair of aces for good measure is the Aggies beat the Rainbow Wahine for just the third time in program history.

Hawai’i committed 52 total errors (32 attack, 17 service, 3 blocking) and hit an anemic .047% in a sloppy offensive showing. Sophomore defensive specialist/libero Victoria Leyva was a bright spot for UH, racking up a match-high 17 digs. UH coaches and players were not made available following the loss.

The Rainbow Wahine will hope for good news regarding the health status of Reid, already down junior outside hitters Tali Hakas and Stella Adeyemi due to injury. Hawai’i (5-8, 1-1 Big West) returns to action next Friday, October 3 for the first conference road trip of the season as they take on Cal State Bakersfield before facing Cal State Northridge on Saturday, October 4.