'Bows Rally Past SMU in Season-Opening Thriller - University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics (2024)

• Box Score

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 08.30.2024

HONOLULU —After a stunningly quick opening set, the University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team went the distance to pull off a remarkable comeback in a five-set season-opening victory over SMU in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic on Friday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Following a bleak start, the Rainbow Wahine rode a career night by junior outside hitter Caylen Alexander to a 7-25, 25-23, 24-26, 25-21, 15-13 victory over the Mustangs. UH battled back to extend the match to five sets for the third straight season opener and the fifth opener in Robyn Ah Mow's seven seasons as head coach.

Alexander set career highs with 28 kills on 66 attempts and posted 11 digs for her 11^th career double-double. Her kill total was the most for a UH player since McKenna Granato put away 29 against UCLA on Aug. 27, 2017.

Sophomore Stella Adeyemi added 10 kills in her first career start. Sophomore Tali Hakas, who rejoined the team this week after playing for Israel's national team this summer, started at an outside hitter spot and finished with five kills. Middle blocker Jacyn Bamis also made her first UH start and contributed five kills, was in on four blocks and served up two aces.

Setter Kate Lang distributed 36 assists and freshman defensive specialist Victoria Leyva sparked the 'Bows in the back row with 10 digs in her official collegiate debut. She enrolled in the spring semester and played in UH's exhibition matches.

Avengers assemble.#GoBows #SISTAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/YH83Trm5FT

— Hawaii W. Volleyball (@HawaiiWVB) August 31, 2024

UH improved to 12-0 all-time against SMU despite hitting .090 with 55 kills against 40 errors while the Mustangs hit .188 and put down 16 blocks.

SMU took command early in the opening set, taking a 3-0 lead before Adeyemi recorded the 'Bows' first kill of the season. UH trailed 6-4 before the Mustangs broke away with an 11-1 run on their way to the rout. The Mustangs hit .647 in the set while holding UH to negative-.138 in the 'Bows' lowest point total under the current 25-point scoring system. The previous low came in the second set of a 19-25, 9-25, 25-28 loss to Stanford on Dec. 13, 2008.

The 'Bows regrouped between sets and never trailed in the second in a stunning bounce-back. Alexander put away 10 kills on 18 swings in the set to ignite her career night. She accounted for three kills and a block assist in a 5-1 run to open the set. SMU rallied to twice force ties before Hakas' kill of the block gave UH a 23-22 lead. After an SMU error gave UH two set points, the Mustangs fought off a set point before a service error gave UH the set and evened the match.

UH again took an early lead in the third set before the Mustangs caught and passed the 'Bows to open up a 22-18 lead. UH responded with a 4-0 run and tied it up on Alexander's 17^th kill. A dig by Victoria Leyva led to another Alexander kill to give UH set point at 24-23. But the Mustangs scored the next three points, closing with a block to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

UH took a 13-8 lead in the fourth set before SMU rallied to tie it at 14-14. The teams remained within a couple of points of each other and UH moved ahead 20-18 on an ace dealt by Jackie Matias. UH led 22-21 when Alexander rolled in another kill and a block by Jacyn Bamis gave UH set point. An SMU error then sent the match to a fifth set.

UH led 8-5 in the fifth when Lang tapped down an overpass and SMU tied it at 9-9 and erased a 13-10 deficit as well. An error gave UH match point and celebrated the victory after the Mustangs couldn't return Alexander's final swing from the back row.

'Bows Win in 5!
Set scores 7-25, 25-23, 24-26, 25-21, 15-13
Caylen Alexander: 28 kills, 11 digs#GoBows #SISTAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/T6WGOm0uB5

— Hawaii W. Volleyball (@HawaiiWVB) August 31, 2024

The tournament continues Saturday with SMU facing San Diego on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Rainbow Wahine close the weekend by taking on USD on Sunday at 5 p.m.

#HawaiiWVB