Women’s Volleyball Returns Home to Open Big West Season

HONOLULU — The University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team opens its farewell season in the Big West with a two-match homestand featuring matchups with UC Riverside on Friday and UC Davis on Saturday. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (4-7) return to Mānoa for the opening weekend of conference play aiming to bounce back from three losses at the Stanford Tournament in their first road trip of the season.
 

HAWAI’I RAINBOW WAHINE (4-7, 0-0 BIG WEST) VS. UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS (4-6, 0-0)  |  UC DAVIS AGGIES (4-4, 0-0)
Schedule				Hawai’i vs. UC Riverside: Friday, Sept, 26 | 7:00 p.m. Hawai’i vs. UC Davis: Saturday, Sept. 27 | 7:00 p.m.
Location				Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, O’ahu
Tickets				ETicketHawaii.com
Promotions				Friday, Sept. 26 vs. UC Riverside: Hispanic Heritage Night Altres is the game sponsor and will be handing out foam shakas to the first 200 lucky fans.  Throughout the season, UH Athletics will celebrate the unique melting pot of cultures that makes Hawai’i special, kicking off with Hispanic Heritage Night. In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 through Oct. 15), we recognize the histories, cultures, and contributions of the Hispanic community in Hawai’i. Portions of the match will be announced in Spanish, thanks to the UH Department of the Languages & Literatures of Europe and the Americas. Ticket Promotion: Aloha Friday ‘Bows & Brews It’s Aloha Friday, no work ’til Monday! Join us as we celebrate the weekend with our ‘Bows & Brews promotion where fans can snag 2 game tickets and 2 adult beverages for only $30 at all Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Friday matches. Click here to purchase the Aloha Friday: ‘Bows & Brews package.  Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. UC Davis: Hawaiian Heritage Night American Savings Bank is the game sponsor for Hawaiian Heritage Night and is turning up the excitement with fabulous prizes throughout the match! This is the second installment of where we proudly celebrate the unique melting pot of cultures that make Hawai’i truly special. September is Hawaiian History Month, and we’re honoring the incredible legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani and Hawai’i’s rich cultural heritage. Portions of the match will be announced in ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i in recognition of this special month.
Game Day Information				Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center Game Day Information page
Television				UH games on Spectrum OC16 — Ch. 16 (SD) / 1016 (HD) Kanoa Leahey (PxP), Chris McLachlin (Color). Pregame/Postgame: Scott Robbs, Lisa Strand, Ryan Kalei Tsuji.
Live Stream				ESPN+ (Blacked out in Hawai’i)
Radio				ESPN Honolulu | 1420 AM / 92.7 FM | Tiff Wells (play-by-play)
Live Audio Stream				ESPNHonolulu.com
Live Stats				Statbroadcast.com
Game Notes				Hawai’i |  UC Riverside | UC Davis
Social Media				@HawaiiWVB  | #HawaiiWVB #GoBows #SISTAHHOOD | @HawaiiWVB  | Facebook

OPENING SERVE

• The Rainbow Wahine dropped meetings with No. 4 Stanford and UCLA and Texas State last weekend at the Stanford Tournament to close the nonconference schedule.
• UH enters its final season in the Big West with a 346-56 record in conference play over 23 years of membership (1985-95, 2012-present). The Rainbow Wahine have won 14 championships in the Big West, including each of the last five years. UH will join the Mountain West starting in 2026.
• UH freshman Cha’lei Reid leads the team and ranks sixth in the Big West with 3.58 kills per set. She also leads the conference with 21 service aces.
• Middle blocker Bri Gunderson leads the Big West with 51 total blocks and 1.28 per set. Miliana Sylvester ranks fifth in the conference with 1.13 blocks per set.
• Libero Victoria Leyva ranks fifth in the Big West with 3.85 digs per set.
• As a team, UH leads the Big West with 71 service aces and an average of 1.73 per set.
• The ‘Bows have four matches with double-digits blocks through 11 matches this season after posting a total of four in the 2024 season.
• UH is 500-79 all-time in Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center since the facility opened in 1994.

THE MATCHUPS

Hawai’i vs. UC Riverside

Series Record: UH leads 33-1
Streak: UCR won 1
Last Meeting: UCR 3-2 (29-27, 17-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-13); Nov. 7, 2024; Riverside, Calif.
Head Coach: Branden Higa (first year, 4-6)

• The Rainbow Wahine and Highlanders meet for the 35^th time in a series that dates back to Dec. 12, 1974.
• UH won the first 33 meetings before UCR earned a five-set win last season in Riverside, Calif.
• UH is 18-0 at home against the Highlanders.
• UCR entered the week at 4-6 and coming off of wins over UNLV and Southern Utah last week in Las Vegas.
• Head coach Branden Higa is in his first season at UCR. He spent the previous 13 seasons at California Baptist where he compiled a record of 209-144.
• Outside hitter Sophia Ewalefo leads UCR with 3.42 kills per set.
• UCR setter Mākena Tong is a graduate of University Lab School in Honolulu. The senior leads the Highlanders with 282 assists (7.42 per set).
  
  

Hawai’i vs. UC Davis

Series Record: UH leads 22-2

Streak: UH won 2

Last Meeting: UH 3-2 (25-22, 16-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-13); Nov. 29, 2024; Irvine, Calif.

Head Coach: Dan Conners (11th season, 155-48)

• The Rainbow Wahine and Aggies meet for the 25^th time in a series that began in 2012.
• The ‘Bows and Aggies traded road wins last year and UH won a five-set duel in the semifinals of the Big West Championship.
• UH won 18 consecutive meetings from 2013-23 before the Aggies earned a five-set win last season in the program’s first victory over UH in Honolulu.
• UH is 10-1 against UC Davis at home.
• UC Davis entered the week at 4-4 and closed the nonconference schedule with a five-set win at California on Sept. 17.
• Head coach Dan Conners is in his 11^th season and has a record of 155-48.
• Senior outside hitter Jade Light leads the Big West and ranks 27^th nationally with 4.41 kills per set. Haden Bones is the conference leader in aces per set (0.55) and Mia Starr leads the Big West with 9.72 assists per set.
• UC Davis has one player from Hawai’i on the roster in outside hitter Reese Diersbock (Kailua, Le Jardin Academy).

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