Women’s volleyball returns for crucial games against Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton

HONOLULU–The University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team (14-6, 11-1 Big West) returns home to host a pair of tiebreak games against Long Beach State (14-6, 9-3 BW) on Friday Nov. 4 and Cal State Fullerton (12-8, 6-6 BW) on Saturday, Nov. 5.

RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL – WEEK #11 INFORMATION
Opponent | Appointment | Time				LONG BEACH STATE | Friday, November 4, 2022 | 7:00 p.m. HT FULLERTON CAL STATE | Saturday November 5, 2022 | 7:00 p.m. HT
Location				SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, O’ahu
Tickets				ETicketHawaii.com
Specials				Coca Cola is the sponsor of Friday’s game and will distribute 300 clear Coca-Cola fanny packs at Gate A and award a Coca-Cola Zero cooler with umbrella to the winner of the “Enter to Win” contest. Hawaiian Federal Financial Union is the sponsor on Saturday and will be giving away 1,500 UH Rainbow Sunglasses at Gate A. Visit the Hawaiian Financial FCU table for the opportunity to design your own fanboard to use during the game. Fans are encouraged to visit the Sports Marketing Table (located near Gate A) to register to participate in promotions and win great prizes.
Match day information				SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center Game Day Information Page
Matchday lists				CLICK HERE (PDF)
Television				Spectrum OC16 – Ch. 16 (SD) or Chap. 1016 (HD) – Kanoa Leahey (game by game), Chris McLachlin (color); Scott Robbs, Lisa Strand, Kirsten Sibley (pre/post game)
Direct				ESPN+ (Blacked out in Hawai’i) | Friday – LBSU | Saturday – CSF
Radio				FRIDAY – ESPN Honolulu | 1420AM / 92.7FM | Tiff Wells (game by game) SATURDAY – CBS 1500 | 3:00 p.m. | Tiff Wells (game by game)
Live audio stream				FRIDAY – ESPNHonolulu.com | Sideline Hawaii App SATURDAY – cbssportshawaii.com | Sideline Hawaii App
Live statistics				Friday – LBSU SATURDAY – CSF
Game Notes				Hawaii | Long Beach State | State of California Fullerton
social media				@HawaiiWVB | #HawaiiWVB #GoBows | @HawaiiWVB | Facebook

HAWAI’I VS. LONG BEACH STATE (14-6, 9-3 CP)Overall series record: UH leads 40-18-1
Streak: UH won the last 10
The Head Coach: Tyler Hildebrand (first season)

• Since UH beat The Beach on Oct. 1 in four sets, LBSU has been on fire, winning its last seven games, including five in five sets. Last week, LBSU swept CSU Bakersfield on Friday, then edged out Cal Poly in five hard-fought sets at home.
• In the first round of Big West action, Hawai’i beat Long Beach State in fours at the Walter Pyramid, 25-20, 25-21, 15-25, 25-19. Riley Wagoner led the ‘Bows with 16 passing kills Kate Lang posted a double-double with 32 assists and a team-high 13 digs.
• Last year under former head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer, UH swept The Beach at home (1/10/21), 26-024, 25-16, 25-21. On the road, the ‘Bows won in four sets at the Walter Pyramid (11/6/21), 25-21, 25-11, 21-25, 25-19.
• The only tie in Rainbow Wahine history came against the beach at the UCLA/NIVT tournament in Los Angeles, California on November 4, 1978 (12-15, 15-6).
• In the legendary history between Rainbow Wahine and The Beach, UH won the first 16 meetings against LBSU from 1977 to 1989. Then Long Beach State dominated 11 consecutive games. The Beach has snuffed out UH’s season in five of six NCAA Tournament appearances (1989, 1990, 1991, 9’3, 1994). Hawai’i finally managed to defeat The Beach in a 2006 Second Round NCAA Tournament at the Walter Pyramid, 3-1.

HAWAI’I VS. CAL STATE FULLERTON (12-8, 6-6 CP)Overall series record: UH leads 46-0
Streak: UH won 46
The Head Coach: Nicole Vargas Polster (Second Season)

• Last week, Cal State Fullerton split its home games, falling to Cal Poly 3-0 but rebounding a night later to hold CSU Bakersfield, 3-1.
• At the start of the Big West season, Hawai’i swept the Titans on the road in September, 25-20, 25-15, 25-13. Amber Igiede recorded a 14-elimination match with a four-block game and a service ace. Riley Wagoner and Caylen Alexander both added 10 wins apiece.
• Last year in Honolulu, UH held off the Titans in five sets, 25-13, 25-20, 25-27, 13-25, 15-10. On the road, the ‘Bows swept Cal State Fullerton (25-23, 25-19, 25-14).• UH and UCSB have split their last six games with the Rainbow Wahine winning three and the Gauchos winning three.

HEAD COACH ROBYN AH MOWGeneral assessment: 100-35 (fifth season)
In Hawaii: Same
Great West: 71-9 (fifth season)

• With the two wins on the road to Hawai’i last week at UC Riverside and UC Davis, Robyn Ah Mow earned his 100th win as head coach of the Rainbow Wahine. The ‘Bows came back from a slow start in the first set to rally against the Aggies in five sets to secure the decisive victory.
• Ah Mow, who is in her fifth season (sixth overall – BWC did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19) has been voted BWC Coach of the Year for the past two seasons (co-coach in Chef in 2019) and was named AVCA 2019 All Region North Pacific Coach of the Year. The two-time AVCA All-American and three-time Olympian took over the program following legendary head coach Dave Shoji. Ah Mow led his alma mater to back-to-back Big West titles. Last year, the ‘Bows upset SEC runner-up No. 24 Mississippi State in the NCAA first round (in Seattle, Wash.) in a five-set thriller, 17-25, 25- 14, 25-13, 21-25, 15-11. Ah Mow led UH to four straight NCAA Tournaments, extending UH’s streak to 28 straight games and 39 total NCAA appearances.

LAST TIME OUT…

• Last week, Hawai’i swept UC Riverside on the road Friday 25-21, 25-15, 25-15. UH was cruising in the first set, but the Highlanders raced 7-1 to tie the score at 19-19. UH would regroup to take six of the final eight points to win the first set, 25-21. Amber Igiede led UH with a record 11 decisive wins with eight blocks, including three solos that tied his career high. Braelyn Akana had 10 kills and was effective on offense, hitting .692 (10-1-13).
• At UC Davis, the Aggies came through the doors quickly, easily winning the first set, 25-16. UH twice came within two points, but both times UCD responded by extending their lead. Hawai’i came back strong in set 2, winning 25-12. UH edged UCD in a marathon third set, 28-26 as the Aggies avoided three set points before the ‘Bows could end the freame. In the fourth, the Aggies rallied to force a fifth set that UH won 15-9 in the first leg.
• Victory at UC Davis marked Robyn Ah Mow100th career win as UH head coach.
• At UCD, Igiede had a career-high 24 kills while hitting a clip of .432 (24-8-37) while making seven blocks. Rookie Caylen Alexander came to the rescue, matching his career high with 18 kills while hitting a heavy .385 (18-3-39).
• For their efforts, Igiede earned his second Big West Offensive Player of the Week award. Igiede has now won five weekly career BW awards – Offensive Player of the Week (2), Defensive POW (2), Freshman of the Week (1). Alexander was named BW Freshman of the Week for the fifth time. No other Big West rookie has more than two Freshman of the Week awards in 2022. Alexander ties former Rainbow Wahine Hanna Hellvig who also won five BW Freshman of the Week awards in 2019. These two Rainbow Wahine earned this honor more than any other UH player since the award was established in 2015 by The Big West.