By: Marilyn Anye (@AnyeMarilyn) – Spear Reporter | SJSU women’s volleyball players gather in a huddle during their match against Wyoming on Oct. 3 at Spartan Gym. (Photo by Marilyn Anye – Spear photographer)
San Jose State women’s volleyball (6-9, 1-4 MW) fell 3-0 to Mountain West-leading University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (13-3, 5-0 MW) Friday night at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
The Spartans held early leads in all three sets but couldn’t maintain them as the Rainbow Wahine used sustained scoring runs to take control. Hawai’i took the first two sets 25-14 before finishing the match with a 25-21 victory in the third set.
The Rainbow Wahine finished with 51 kills and a .368 hitting percentage compared with the Spartans’ 27 kills and .112 hitting percentage. They also maintained a 58-44 advantage in digs.
Sophomore outside hitter Morgan Graves led the Spartans with 7 kills on 21 attempts while hitting .238.
Graduate student outside hitter Zuzana Kosíková, senior outside hitter Devon DeNecochea and junior right-side hitter Mariana Buchanan each added 4 kills.
The Spartans opened the first set with a 7-5 advantage before the Rainbow Wahine began creating separation, running a six-point run later in the set to build a 14-8 lead before grabbing the opener 25-14.
After falling behind 5-1 in the second set, the Spartans responded taking a 7-6 lead behind kills from Graves, Buchanan, junior middle blocker Learden Lee and senior outside hitter Naima Foster.
Both teams remained close through a 9-9 tie before Hawai’i regained control. The Spartans trailed 17-13 before the Rainbow Wahine scored seven consecutive points, leading their way to another 25-14 set win.
SJSU showed its strongest response in the third set after falling behind 19-12. Sophomore right-side hitter Tatiana Robinson helped spark the push needed for the kill before redshirt senior right-side hitter Lolohea Fonua followed with a service ace.
The Spartans were determined to cut into the deficit with another Robinson kill, a block from redshirt junior middle blocker Aniyah Hall and an ace from junior defensive specialist Eva Vostracká.
Kosíková recorded her second ace of the set, leaving the Spartans down two at 23-21.
Hawai’i responded to SJSU’s late push with a kill from sophomore outside hitter Maëli Cormier, setting up match point and completing the sweep with a 25-21 win.
Redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Orian Drore led the Spartans defensively with 13 digs. Senior setter Fatimah Hall added 11 assists, while junior setter Hanna Darvas finished with 10.
The Spartans finished with 3 total blocks compared with the Rainbow Wahine’s 4, while holding a 4-3 advantage in service aces.
SJSU will have another opportunity against the University of Hawai’i when the teams meet again at 10 p.m. Saturday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
