The 11th-ranked University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team (10-1, 0-0 BWC) opens Big West Conference play against UC Santa Barbara (4-7, 0-0 BWC) on Friday and Cal Poly (8-3 0-0 BWC) on Saturday. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.
The 11th-ranked University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team (10-1, 0-0 BWC) opens Big West Conference play against UC Santa Barbara (4-7, 0-0 BWC) on Friday and Cal Poly (8-3 0-0 BWC) on Saturday. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine rose one spot to No. 11 this week in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll after sweeping CSU Bakersfield last week. The ‘Bows have gone up in rankings every week through the first four weeks of this season.
Hawaii leads the conference in six of seven statistical categories—hitting percentage (.276); assists (13.05); blocks (3.15), opponent hitting percentage (.163); kills (14.27); and service aces (1.58). Individually, Olivia Magill leads the league with a .389 hitting percentage and 1.59 blocks per set. Nikki Taylor is tops in the Big West with 4.82 kills per set and 0.52 aces per set. In blocking, UH is holding down the top three spots in conference with Magill, Taylor (1.42 blocks per set) and Emily Maglio (1.25). Maglio is also ranked No. 8 in hitting percentage (.309).
Taylor had her school-record string of three-straight Big West Player of the Week awards come to an end this week. But, she kept her streak of double-digit kills going after recording 20 and 11 respectively this past weekend against the Roadrunners. She now has put down at least 10 kills in UH’s last 13 matches dating back to last season. Taylor leads Hawai’i with 193 kills and 21 service aces. She is second on the squad with 96 digs and 57 blocks.
Magill, UH’s senior middle hitter, leads Hawai’i with 58 blocks—including four solo. She is also second on the team with 102 kills. Magill has had at least two blocks in every match this year, with a season-high of 11 coming against Iowa (Sept. 4).
Emerging in the middle as another offensive threat is Maglio. She led UH in their most recent match against CSU Bakersfield drilling a career-high 12 kills. Maglio is third on the team with 34 blocks in just 28 sets played.
