HONOLULU — The Hawaii women’s volleyball program, a four-time national champion with 39 all-time NCAA tournament appearances, is accustomed to the target that comes with that level of consistent winning.
Rainbow Wahine players and coach Robyn Ah Mow spoke this week about the knowledge that opposing programs in the Big West elevate their level of play every time the “H” comes around in a game week. If Friday is any indication, the Wahine are ready to raise their game in kind.
They dispatched visiting UC Davis, 25-22, 25-14, 25-21, at SimpliFi Arena to make it 10-for-10 in Big West openers since rejoining the conference in women’s sports in 2012.
UH (4-5 overall) faced several larger, marquee opponents in 2022 nonconference play, finally earning a signature win in its last chance, a reverse sweep of USC on Sept. 10. The confidence from that result extended through an off week from official action and into Friday’s contest against the Aggies (6-6, 1-1).
Junior hitter Riley Wagoner had her first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 digs. The middles, Amber Igiede and Tiffany Westerberg, were productive as well with 18 combined kills and the majority of UH’s nine team blocks.
UH improved to 17-1 all time against Davis, with the lone loss in 2013. The Aggies got a team-high eight kills from Demari Webb on 29 swings (.103 hitting).
The Wahine must regroup quickly for UC Riverside (2-8, 0-1) without letting their guard down against a team that has failed to beat UH in 28 all-time meetings. UH and UCR have first serve at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The Highlanders, who lost in four sets to the Aggies on Tuesday, have a first-year head coach in Nicky Cannon.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.