By: Marilyn Anye (@AnyeMarilyn) – Spear Reporter | Senior middle blocker Ava Hewitt-Smith (9) and junior right-side hitter Mariana Buchanan (15) celebrate a point during SJSU’s match against Wyoming on Oct. 3 at Spartan Gym. (Photo by Marilyn Anye – Spear photographer)
San Jose State women’s volleyball (6-10, 1-5 MW) opened its Saturday rematch against the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (14-3, 6-0 MW) with a tighter first set, but the Rainbow Wahine pulled away to complete a 3-0 sweep at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Spartans stayed within reach throughout the opening set before falling 25-20. The Rainbow Wahine created more separation in the final two sets, winning both 25-13 to secure their second consecutive sweep of the Spartans.
Junior middle blocker Learden Lee led the Spartans with 7 kills on 16 attempts without an attack error, finishing with a .438 hitting percentage. She also contributed with 3 blocks, including 2 solo blocks.
The Spartans struggled to match Lee’s offensive efficiency, finishing with 18 kills and a -.033 hitting percentage compared with the Rainbow Wahine’s 40 kills and .245 hitting percentage.
SJSU remained competitive throughout the opening set, cutting Hawai’i’s lead to two at 16-14 behind a block from Lee.
But Hawai’i responded by building a 20-14 advantage before SJSU made another late push.
The Spartans eventually pulled it together at 23-20 after a kill from senior outside hitter Devon DeNecochea and blocks from graduate student outside hitter Zuzana Kosíková and redshirt junior middle blocker Aniyah Hall.
Hawai’i then scored the final two points, taking the set 25-20.
The stronger opening set followed a 25-14 first-set loss to Hawai’i on Friday night.
SJSU assistant coach Haylee Nelson said the team wanted to enter the rematch by focusing on playing more aggressively.
“We challenged them to go for it from the service line and to find some solutions offensively,” Nelson said. “I thought that we did that.”
The Spartans briefly took a 2-1 lead in the second set behind an ace from Kosíková before the Rainbow Wahine responded with 6 straight points.
Later, the Spartans cut the deficit to 12-9, with Lee adding a block and a kill during that push.
Hawai’i regained control and closed out the second set 25-13. SJSU finished the set with 4 kills and 9 attack errors for a -.172 hitting percentage.
The Spartans found another opportunity to take an early advantage in the third set, having a 6-4 lead behind kills from sophomore outside hitter Morgan Graves, Hall and Lee.
The Rainbow Wahine responded again by turning an 11-10 lead into an 18-10 advantage before eventually taking the set 25-13.
SJSU assistant coach Mayda Garcia said that the Spartans’ opening-set performance displayed what the team was capable of before they struggled to maintain that energy throughout the match.
“We did everything right in game one, and it almost seemed like we just lost it after that,” Garcia said. “We couldn’t find our footing underneath us anymore.”
The Spartans were able to be continuously competitive at the net despite their offensive struggles, finishing with 7 total blocks compared with the Rainbow Wahine’s 8.
Hall led the Spartans with 4 blocks, including 1 solo block. Lee added 3 blocks to her seven-kill performance, while senior outside hitter Naima Foster helped with 2 block assists.
Kosíková led the Spartans defensively with 15 digs and added 2 service aces. Redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Orian Drore followed with 9 digs, while senior setter Fatimah Hall contributed 7.
SJSU will return home for a two-match series against the University of California, Davis, at 6 p.m. Friday at Spartan Gym.
