Ducks end Rainbow Wahine’s season with sweep

The Maui News

The University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team saw its season end Friday as Oregon swept the Rainbow Wahine 25-23, 25-12, 25-17 in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Eugene, Ore.

Caylen Alexander had 13 kills and 10 digs for the Rainbow Wahine (24-9), who lost in the round of 32 for the second time in three years. UH was making its 30th straight appearance in the NCAAs, not counting the 2020 season during which the Big West did not compete due to the pandemic.

The match marked the end of the careers of several ‘Bows, most notably middle blocker Amber Igiede. The native of Baton Rouge, La., had four kills and three blocks Friday to finish her remarkable UH career with 1,371 kills and 529 blocks.

Fellow senior Riley Wagoner had six kills, and Kendra Ham had 11 digs and four kills in her final match for Hawaii. Libero Tayli Ikenaga had a match-high 17 digs, and Kate Lang tallied just 12 assists as UH hit .061 for the match.

The Rainbow Wahine appeared to have the second-seeded Ducks on the ropes in the first set, jumping out to a 19-12 lead after a kill from Wagoner. But Oregon responded with a 7-1 run to close the gap.

UH still led 22-20 before the Ducks completed the rally with a 5-1 closing spurt to take the opening set. The final point came on a questionable overpass kill by Karson Bacon, who appeared to reach over the plane of the net.

Oregon pulled away early in the second set, jumping out to a 9-3 lead. After UH scored four straight to pull within two points, the Ducks countered with seven straight to pull away for good

The Rainbow Wahine fell behind early again in the third set but was able to stay within striking distance, closing to 18-15 on a Wagoner kill. But that’s when the Ducks shut the door on the ‘Bows, putting together a 6-1 run that all but ended the match.

Morgan Lewis led Oregon (28-5) with 14 kills. The Ducks advance to the Sweet 16, where they will take on third-seeded Purdue.

The Rainbow Wahine finish the year as Big West champions for the fourth consecutive season and inaugural Big West tournament champions.