Box Score

LAS VEGAS – The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team's dominant run at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament came to an end, Wednesday, with a 25-15, 27-25, 26-24 loss to Utah State in the championship match at The Orleans Arena.

 

The Rainbow Wahine (28-2) saw numerous streaks fall, including consecutive tournament titles won (10) and consecutive WAC Tournament matches won (31). In addition, third-seeded USU (24-9) snapped UH's 23-match win streak and 62-set win streak.

 

Tournament Most Valuable Player Liz McArthur had 12 kills for the Aggies, who needed to win three matches in the tournament, including victories over top-seeded UH and second-seeded New Mexico State. Shay Sorenson slammed 13 kills with no errors in 19 swings. The Aggies out-hit UH, .301 to .235.

 

Kanani Danielson tallied a match-high 20 kills along with 12 digs and hit .366. Libero Elizabeth Ka'aihue also had 12 digs. Both were named to the all-tournament team.

 

The Aggies came out firing on all cylinders in the first set, scoring four straight points to take a 9-8 lead. USU extended its advantage to 15-11 at the media timeout. Following an Aggie ace, UH head coach Dave Shoji called his first timeout with the Rainbow Wahine trailing 19-13 and used his second with UH down 23-15. Two UH hitting errors later, and the Aggies took Set 1, 30-15.

 

The Rainbow Wahine regrouped in Set 2 and Danielson turned it on with consecutive kills giving UH a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. Another Danielson kill forced USU to call timeout trailing 18-14. The Rainbow Wahine led 23-19 before four straight Aggie kills tied the score at 23. Danielson ended the run with a kill giving UH set point. After a USU kill, Danielson answered with another kill. Josselyn White gave USU set point and the Aggies ended it with a big block on Chanteal Satele for a 27-25 win.

 

Trailing 2-0 in the WAC Tournament for the first time ever, the Rainbow Wahine got off to a bad start in Set 3 trailing 4-0, 8-4, and 11-7. Each time UH inched to within one. The Aggies led 15-13 at the midway point and 19-16 but the Rainbow Wahine rallied to tie it at 19. Three straight Aggie points gave USU a 22-19 lead. Back-to-back Danielson kills cut the lead to 23-22. McArthur's kill gave the Aggies two championship points but Danielson ended both threats. Sorenson ended the match with her 13^th kill.

 

UH was swept for the first time since the 2008 NCAA Regional final. The Rainbow Wahine also lost in the WAC Tournament championship match for the first time since 1997.

 

Hawai'i will now await its seeding in the NCAA Tournament. The Selection Show is Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET on ESPNews.