The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa women’s volleyball team swept California State University (CSU) Bakersfield, 25-13, 25-10, 25-12 on November 20 to claim at least a share of the Big West title with two matches remaining in the regular season. After the match, Mylana Byrd was honored in the Rainbow Wahine’s first full senior night celebration since 2019.
With the win, UH improved to 20-6 overall, marking the fourth time in head coach Robyn Ah Mow‘s five-year career that UH has hit the 20-win mark in a season.
Middle blocker Amber Igiede led the team with a total of 16 kills and six blocks. CSU Bakersfield was unable to find a solution for Igiede, who started the match pounding seven kills in the first set alone. Her 16 total kills came on 27 errorless swings for a .593 hitting percentage, which was the 11th time this season that she has hit over .500. It was also her fourth-straight match with at least five blocks.
Junior Riley Wagoner notched her sixth double-double of the season, putting down 11 kills with 10 digs. She has recorded 10+ digs in eight of UH‘s last nine matches. Throughout the season, she has had double-digit digs in 12 games and 17 double-digit kill matches.
Along with Wagoner, Kendra Ham came up with 10 digs and Tayli Ikenaga added 13. Both Ham and Ikenaga also recorded milestone career numbers during the three-setter as Ham tallied her 200th career dig and Ikenaga picked up her 600th career dig.
Kate Lang and Byrd split time at setter. Lang had 19 assists and five digs with a kill and an ace, while Byrd dished out 10 assists with four digs and a block solo. The two setters combined to lead UH to a .307 hitting percentage—the fourth time in the last five games that UH has hit over .300 as a team.
UH held CSU Bakersfield to a -.050 hitting percentage. The Rainbow Wahine outhit CSU Bakersfield 38-16 in kills, had a 36-14 advantage in assists, a 6-2 edge in service aces, 51-32 in digs and 10-5 in blocks.
The win was UH‘s fifth sweep in the last six matches. UH has held their opponent below 20 points in 14 of the last 18 sets. The match time of an hour and 20 minutes tied UH‘s fastest match of the season.
What’s next
The Rainbow Wahine will end their regular season on the road against UC Santa Barbara on November 25, and CSU Northridge on November 26.
For more, visit hawaiiathletics.com.
