Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
Freshman Nikki Taylor did everything she could to ensure that Senior Night wasn’t the last call at home for the University of Hawaii.
Taylor put down 15 kills Saturday night and the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team swept Cal State Northridge 25-19, 25-20, 25-21 in front of a crowd of 9,458 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
Taylor made only two errors and hit .565. Tai Manu-Olevao smacked 11 kills and Kalei Adolpho chipped in with nine for UH (22-4, 11-3 Big West). Emily Hartong, who was one of seven seniors playing their final regular-season match at home, had eight kills.
For the second consecutive night, the Wahine needed only three games to avenge a five-set loss from earlier in the season. Hawaii has won sixth straight and would appear to have put itself in position to play host at the NCAA tournament. UH was ranked 10th in the latest Ratings Percentage Index, a key factor when the selection committee decides the tournament’s top 16 seeds, who will host the first and second rounds.
Hawaii, which is one game behind first-place Cal Santa Barbara in the Big West standings, closes on the road with Cal Riverside and Cal State Fullerton next weekend.
Natalie Allen finished with 11 kills, but Cal State Northridge (22-6, 12-3) was outhit .252.-152.