Stephens Media Hawaii
Emily Hartong was reliable as usual, and the supporting cast was better than expected.
The University of Hawaii volleyball team rode that recipe to another nonconference tournament title.
Hartong led four players in double figures kills with 21 on Saturday night and the Rainbow Wahine beat Arizona 25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23 at the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Challenge before over 9,000 fans at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
Kalei Adolpho (14), Tai Manu-Olevao (11) and Nikki Taylor (11) each posted career-highs in kills as No. 10 Hawaii (8-1) won its sixth straight match.
Hartong hit only .189, but she added 13 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
Setting it all up was Mita Uiato, who compiled 53 assists and was named the tournament MVP. The Wahine, who won their third tournament of the season, hit .289. Adolpho attacked at a .458 clip. Ali Longo posted a team-high 13 digs.
Madi Kingdon’s 19 kills and 23 digs led the Wildcats (7-2), who hit. 259 and outblocked Hawaii 15.5 to 6.
Arizona won the Game 3 on a 6-1 run, and then almost forced a fifth set when it blocked Hartong for consecutive points to get within 24-23 in Game 4.
But the All-American outside hitter converted on match point for UH, which next travels to Wichita, Kan., for the Shocker Volleyball Classic, Sept. 19-21.