Hawai‘i Women’s Volleyball Beats UC Riverside in Five-Set Thriller to Open Big West Play

HONOLULU — The University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball team rallied from behind twice to defeat UC Riverside in a dramatic five-set battle, 23-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13, on Friday night at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 5-7 overall and 1-0 in Big West Conference play, while UC Riverside fell to 4-8 and 0-2.

Sophomore Adrianna Arquette delivered a historic performance, recording Hawai‘i’s first triple-double since 2018 with 11 kills, 41 assists, and 15 digs. She sealed the victory with a walk-off ace. Sophomore libero Victoria Leyva anchored the back row with a career-best 29 digs, while Cha’lei Reid tallied 15 kills, five aces, and 13 digs for her second double-double of the season. Middle blocker Miliana Sylvester added 13 kills on .500 hitting with four blocks, and Bri Gunderson chipped in 10 kills and three blocks.

Makena Tong delivers a set for UC Riverside in her return home to Hawai‘i, where she reached the 1,000-assist milestone | Photo Credit: Hawaii Athletics

UC Riverside was led by Sophia Ewalefo with a match-high 16 kills and 15 digs, and Andrea Brewer added 14 kills. Hawai‘i native Makena Tong reached a career milestone in her homecoming, recording her 1,000th career assist early in set two while setting up Brewer’s seventh kill. Tong capped her final collegiate match in Honolulu with her third double-double of the season, finishing with 22 assists and 11 digs. Libero Jessica Dean also contributed 22 digs for the Highlanders.

The Rainbow Wahine return to the Stan Sheriff Center Saturday at 7 p.m. to face UC Davis in the 25th meeting between the programs. UH leads the all-time series 23–1 and is 10–1 at home, though the Aggies earned their first win in Honolulu last season. UC Davis (4-4) is led by Big West kills leader Jade Light (4.41/set), ace leader Haden Bones (0.55/set) and assists leader Mia Starr (9.72/set), with Hawai‘i native Reese Diersbock (Le Jardin Academy) on the roster.