Rainbow Wahine Take Winning Streak on First Road Trip to Las Vegas

HONOLULU — After opening the season with eight consecutive matches at home, the University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball team will take its five-match winning streak to Las Vegas for the Lucky Aces Women’s Volleyball Invitational.

The Rainbow Wahine (6-2) will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday, Iowa State on Saturday and UCLA on Sunday at the Orleans Arena. Hawai‘i will serve as the host team for the inaugural tournament in conjunction with the arena and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

First Road Test

The trip will technically be UH’s second attempt to travel this season. The Rainbow Wahine were scheduled to visit UH-Hilo for an exhibition match on Aug. 15, but the trip was canceled due to the approach of Tropical Storm Lala.

Head coach Joshua Walker had hoped to use the Hilo match as an early opportunity for the team to practice its road routine. Instead, Las Vegas will provide the first true test away from Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for a roster featuring several newcomers.

“Everybody’s pretty excited to see if we can continue what we’ve been able to do at home on the road,” Walker said.

Walker emphasized the importance of treating the weekend as a business trip and learning how to manage a tighter schedule, unfamiliar routines and limited free time.

“The hardest thing to do is go on the road and be able to play the same way you do at home,” Walker said. “For us, it’s just making sure what we’ve seen at home travels on the road.”

University of Hawai’i Women’s Volleyball head coach Joshua Walker media availability ahead of first road trip of the season.

Defense and Serving Lead the Way

Hawai‘i enters the weekend leading the Mountain West and ranking 22nd nationally by holding opponents to a .151 hitting percentage. The Rainbow Wahine also rank second in the conference with 13.97 digs per set and fourth with 2.11 blocks per set.

UH closed its season-opening homestand with back-to-back sweeps of Central Arkansas. The current five-match winning streak is the program’s longest since a seven-match run late in the 2023 season.

Walker said Hawai‘i’s ability to apply pressure from the service line will remain critical against a talented tournament field.

“We’ve been able to get teams out of system with our service,” Walker said. “We’re going to have to continue to do that because that’s helped us win.”

Senior outside hitter Panna Ratkai leads the Rainbow Wahine with 97 kills and 3.23 kills per set. The senior outside hitter has recorded double-digit kills in five straight matches and also leads the team with 11 service aces.

Junior middle blocker Miliana Sylvester has provided a steady presence in the middle, ranking second in the Mountain West with 35 total blocks and 1.13 blocks per set. She posted 20 kills on .469 hitting in the two wins over Central Arkansas and surpassed 500 career kills.

Hawaii OH Panna Ratkai attempts a kill from the left side against UC San Diego. | Photo: Riley Guillermo

Homecoming for Purser

The weekend will be especially meaningful for freshman middle blocker Rachel Purser, a Las Vegas native and graduate of Coronado High School.

Purser has quickly established herself in the UH lineup, leading the team with a .328 hitting percentage while hitting above .300 in five consecutive matches.

“I’m so excited to see all my friends and family, and especially them coming out and watching me play in person,” Purser said.

She is also looking forward to a familiar taste of home.

“Definitely In-N-Out,” Purser said with a laugh when asked what she missed about Las Vegas. “I’m so excited.”

Purser credited Sylvester with helping her adjust to the college game. Before the question about their relationship could even be completed, Purser jumped in with her assessment of the veteran middle blocker.

“Oh, she’s the GOAT,” Purser said. “She’s given me so much advice. She’s always telling me what I need to be doing when I’m in the air. She always helps me out.”

Freshman middle blocker and Las Vegas native Rachel Purser media availability ahead of her homecoming in Las Vegas for the the Lucky Aces Women’s Volleyball Invitational.

Three Different Challenges

Hawai‘i will open the tournament against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2-5) in the first meeting between the programs.

The Rainbow Wahine will then face Iowa State (5-3). UH won the teams’ only previous meeting, defeating the Cyclones in four sets during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

The weekend concludes with the 80th meeting between Hawai‘i and UCLA, the most-played series in Rainbow Wahine history. UCLA leads the series 41-38 and has won the last three meetings.

The tournament will serve as UH’s final preparation before opening Mountain West play at home against New Mexico on September 25.

Lucky Aces Invitational Schedule

• Friday, Sept. 18: Hawai‘i vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 3:30 p.m. HT
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Hawai‘i vs. Iowa State, 1:30 p.m. HT
• Sunday, Sept. 20: Hawai‘i vs. UCLA, 11:30 a.m. HT

All three Hawai‘i matches will be televised on K5 and streamed on Mountain West Network.