The University of Hawaii welcomed back an extra pair of hands Friday night. But through three close sets, Karsta Lowe’s hands mattered most.
The University of Hawaii welcomed back an extra pair of hands Friday night. But through three close sets, Karsta Lowe’s hands mattered most.
Lowe slammed 17 kills as UCLA swept the Rainbow Wahine 25-23, 25-23, 27-25 at the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge in Honolulu.
Each game was reset at 21-21, but the No. 25 Bruins had the answers at crunch time.
“We didn’t make the plays down the stretch, and we got to get better at that,” coach Dave Shoji said on the OC16 broadcast. “We couldn’t make plays. It’s going to make us a better team, but it’s real disappointing.”
Tai Manu-Olevao posted 13 kills and Kalei Greeley added 11 for the No. 22 UH (5-3). All of its losses have come against Pacific-12 teams.
Sophomore outside hitter Nikki Taylor, an All-American during the sand volleyball season last spring, saw her first action of the season after nursing an elbow injury and finished with three kills.
“I didn’t want to use her against Karsta Lowe. Karsta hits so hard, I didn’t want to risk it,” Shoji said. “We had to play her, and, obviously, she makes us a better team.”
How close was the match?
Each team had 25 kills, 42 assists, two aces, seven service errors and 12 blocks.
But UCLA had Lowe. The 6-foot-4 senior, an honorable mention All-American last season, made just three errors on 42 swings and hit .333. Claire Felix notched nine kills.
Hawaii wasted three match points in the third set. A Taylor killed tied the game at 25-all, but Lowe put two balls down to seal the match.
Olivia Magill added eight kills for the Rainbow Wahine, who were outhit .250-.205. Sarah Mendoza tallied a match-high 18 digs.
UH hosts San Francisco — which lost in four sets to Utah State on Friday — at 5 p.m. Sunday (OC16).
Soccer
T.J. Reyno scored 30 seconds into overtime to lift the UH women to a 4-3 victory against Weber State in Ogden, Utah, on Friday.
The Wildcats (3-3) rallied from a 3-1 deficit to force OT, but Reyno gathered a pass from Kama Pascua and finished from 2 yards out for her second career goal.
Playing their first road game of the season, the Rainbow Wahine also got scores from Sonest Furtado and Storm Kenui and also benefited from an own goal.
UH visits Idaho State on Sunday.
Stephens Media Hawaii