UH Wahine Sweep USF in Classic Opener

Hawaii’s Jade Vorster puts down one of her 12 kills Friday against USF. Photo by UH Athletics.

By Rodney S. Yap

Jade Vorster and Emily Hartong packed a solid one-two punch tonight, guiding the No. 6 University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team to a sweep of San Francisco (25-14, 27-25, 25-19) on Friday night in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.

UH improves to a perfect 4-0 while USF drops to 3-2.

Hartong posted 14 kills, eight digs, and five aces and Vorster put down 12 kills on just one error. Ali Longo equaled a match-high 10 kills and Mita Uiato had 35 assists and recorded seven digs and a pair of blocks.

Jocelyn Levig led USF with 11 kills and Rebecca Kopilovitch had a team-high 10 digs.

USF played the Bows well in the early going of set one, but saw UH eventually assume control for the easy win. After the Dons tied the score at 13-13, Hawaii caught fire and ran off five straight points. The Bows kept the momentum and raced to the win on the strength of three Hartong service aces, finishing the set on a 12-1 run.

The Dons did not give in so easily in set two, but the ‘Bows prevailed with a hard-fought 27-25 win to take a two-set lead. USF looked prime to even the match when a Levig kill gave her team a 20-17 lead. A Kristana Tuaniga (2 kills) kill and a Vorster block cut the lead to 20-19 for UH but it was Levig who responded to push the USF lead to two points. The Dons had set point at 25-24, but two kills by Jane Croson (7 kills, 6 digs) and another by Hartong gave the Bows the win.

UH had little trouble closing out the match in the third set. Consecutive kills by Hartong gave the Bows a 13-12 lead, sparking an 8-1 run that finished off the Dons and completed the sweep.

In the opening match of the evening, Baylor swept No. 25 California, 25-23, 26-24, 25-23.

The Hawaiian Airlines Classic continues tonight as the Bows take on Baylor at 7 p.m. following the conclusion of the California vs. USF match at 5:00 p.m.