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Alexander’s historic night leads to “Bows” and the tournament title

Jasper
Alexander’s historic night leads to “Bows” and the tournament title

HONOLULU — Caylen Alexander added a historic performance to an already successful early season effort, helping the University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball team to a five-set victory over Texas State and the OUTRIGGER Invitational title on Saturday at SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Alexander scored a career-high 38 kills, becoming the first UH player in nearly 18 years to score more than 35 kills. The Rainbow Wahine (6-1) claimed their second tournament title of the season with a 25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 21-25 and 15-12 victory over the Bobcats (4-4), capping a seven-game home stand to open the season.

Alexander capped the night with nine kills on 14 shots in the fifth set alone, and UH improved to 4-1 in five-set matches this season. She became the first UH player to have more than 35 kills in a match since Jamie Houston reached that number on Dec. 8, 2006, in the NCAA Tournament against USC. She finished the match with 74 attempts, becoming the first Rainbow Wahine to need more than 70 shots in a match since Emily Hartong’s 79 against UC Irvine on Oct. 27, 2012.

Efficient and savvy, she posted a .338 batting average, hit 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the season and served two aces while earning her second Most Outstanding Player award of her junior year. She also earned the honor after leading UH to the title of the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic that opened the season.

setter Kate Long was named to the All-Tournament team after she tallied 56 assists – her third time this season over 50 – and 17 digs for her fourth double-double, while also recording a season-high five kills on seven attempts.

It was also a milestone evening for the Libero Tayli Ikenagawho recorded her first career double-double with 12 digs and 12 assists, a career high, and was named to the All-Tournament team. Freshman Middle Miliana Sylvester also earned All-Tournament honors after contributing eight kills and two blocks.

Middle blocker Jacyn Bamis also caused a stir with 10 kills, two aces and two blocks. Tali Hakas She was just one kill away from a double-double, while she set her personal record with 18 digs.

UH opened the match with its most efficient set of the season, hitting a .421 batting average with 19 kills and three errors to win the first set for the third time in seven matches. Alexander converted seven of her first 11 shots and finished the set with nine kills in 15 attempts and a .533 batting average.

As in the singles match between the teams on Tuesday, Texas State controlled the second set, building a 7-1 lead. The Bobcats led 21-11 when UH closed the gap with a 7-1 run that included three kills from Alexander. But Texas State closed out the set and tied the game.

Lang got her own number, scoring four kills in as many attempts in the third set while leading a .302 batting average attack and serving an ace to put UH back in the lead. But Texas State answered again, posting a .444 batting average in a flawless fourth set to overcome Alexander’s eight kills and force UH to a fifth for the fifth time in seven matches.

The ‘Bows broke open a tight set with a five-point run featuring three Alexander kills and a solo block by Bamis, and UH took match point at 14-10. Texas State stayed in the game for two more points before Alexander sank her final kill of the night.

The Rainbow Wahine begin their first away tour of the season on Sunday, playing at UNLV in Las Vegas on September 17. The week-long trip also takes them to the Lone Star State, where they face defending champion Texas and Baylor.

#HawaiiWVB

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