Wahine Sweep Two Match Series Against SJSU
By WAA Staff 10/10/26
Rainbow Wahine Stay Perfect in Mountain West Play, Sweep Two-Match Series Against San Jose State
HONOLULU, Hawai‘i — The University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team continued its dominant run through Mountain West Conference play, completing a two-match sweep of San Jose State with back-to-back straight-set victories Friday and Saturday night at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawai‘i improved to 14-3 overall and a perfect 6-0 in Mountain West play, remaining atop the conference standings while extending its winning streak to six matches and 18 consecutive sets. Under first-year head coach Joshua Walker, the Rainbow Wahine have quickly established themselves as a force in their inaugural Mountain West season.
Hawai‘i Cruises to Victory in Friday’s Opener
The Rainbow Wahine opened the weekend with an impressive 25-14, 25-14, 25-21 victory Friday night, overwhelming the Spartans with efficient offense and relentless defense. Cha’lei Reid led Hawai‘i with 13 kills, while Panna Ratkai contributed 12 kills and 13 digs. Maëli Cormier added 10 kills while hitting an outstanding .600.
Setter Adrianna Arquette directed the offense with 36 assists as Hawai‘i finished with a .368 hitting percentage, holding San Jose State to just .112.
Freshman Cameron Holcomb anchored the back row with 15 digs, helping Hawai‘i secure its fifth consecutive sweep.
The victory also marked a significant milestone for the program, as the Rainbow Wahine surpassed their entire win total from the 2025 season.
Rainbow Wahine Complete Weekend Sweep Saturday Night
Hawai‘i returned to the court Saturday night and delivered another commanding performance, defeating San Jose State 25-20, 25-13, 25-13 to complete the weekend sweep in front of 7,009 fans. Reid once again led the Rainbow Wahine offensively, recording 11 kills. Miliana Sylvester contributed nine kills on a .438 hitting percentage while adding five blocks.
Cormier continued her efficient play with eight kills and an impressive .583 hitting percentage. Arquette finished with 30 assists and two service aces, while Ratkai led the team defensively with 12 digs.The Rainbow Wahine recorded 40 kills, seven service aces and eight team blocks, holding San Jose State to a negative .033 hitting percentage.
After a competitive opening set, Hawai‘i took complete control, limiting the Spartans to just 13 points in each of the final two sets.
Hawai‘i Remains Unbeaten in Conference Play
With the two victories, Hawai‘i has now swept all six of its Mountain West matches this season, defeating New Mexico, Grand Canyon and San Jose State twice each.
The Rainbow Wahine have yet to drop a set in conference competition, highlighting the team’s consistency and improvement under Walker.
Now sitting at 14-3, the Rainbow Wahine have already exceeded last season’s win total and positioned themselves as a serious contender for the Mountain West championship. Hawai‘i has also demonstrated impressive depth, with players such as Reid, Ratkai, Sylvester and Cormier contributing offensively while Arquette continues to provide steady leadership at setter.
What’s Next for the Rainbow Wahine?
Hawai‘i will now head back on the road for a two-match Mountain West series against Wyoming in Laramie on October 15 and 17.
Rainbow Wahine Off to Perfect 4-0 Start in Mountain West
By WAA Staff 10/5/26
Rainbow Wahine Off to Perfect 4-0 Start in Mountain West Play
HONOLULU — The University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team has wasted little time making its presence felt in the Mountain West Conference.
In their first season as a member of the Mountain West, the Rainbow Wahine have opened conference play with a perfect 4-0 record, improving to 12-3 overall after sweeping both New Mexico and Grand Canyon in consecutive two-match series.
A Dominant Start to a New Era
Hawai‘i began its inaugural Mountain West campaign at home against New Mexico on Sept. 25 and 26. The Rainbow Wahine swept the Lobos on back-to-back nights, including a 25-20, 25-18, 25-18 victory in the series finale.
The ‘Bows then took their success on the road, traveling to Phoenix for their first Mountain West road series against Grand Canyon.
Hawai‘i once again came away with two sweeps, capped by a convincing 25-23, 25-21, 25-10 victory on Oct. 3. The win marked UH’s fourth consecutive sweep, its longest run of sweeps since October 2023. The Rainbow Wahine are now 12-0 in sets played against Mountain West opponents.
Defense Setting the Tone
One of the biggest reasons behind Hawai‘i’s fast start has been its work defensively, particularly at the net.
In the second victory over Grand Canyon, UH recorded 14 total blocks and held the Lopes to a .144 hitting percentage. The performance was particularly notable because Grand Canyon entered the week leading the Mountain West in hitting percentage. Over the two-match series, Hawai‘i held GCU to just .162 hitting.
Middle blocker Miliana Sylvester was a major factor in the series finale, finishing with eight kills on .500 hitting while contributing to seven blocks.
Contributions Coming From Across the Roster
The Rainbow Wahine’s success hasn’t been dependent on just one player. Against Grand Canyon on Saturday, Tali Hakas led Hawai‘i with 14 kills while hitting .387. Panna Ratkai added seven kills without committing an attacking error, while setter Adrianna Arquette finished with 29 assists. Ratkai and libero Victoria Leyva each recorded 10 digs.
Ratkai also played a major role in Hawai‘i’s second victory over New Mexico, recording a match-high 15 kills while hitting .302. Rachel Purser added eight kills and four blocks, while Cha‘lei Reid contributed 10 kills.
Walker Era Off to a Strong Start
The early conference success also comes during Joshua Walker’s first season as head coach of the ’Bows. Taking over one of the most tradition-rich programs in college volleyball brings expectations, but Hawai‘i’s early results have been encouraging. At 12-3 overall, the Rainbow Wahine have combined efficient offense, strong serving and an increasingly difficult defense to produce an impressive opening stretch. Now the challenge will be maintaining that level of play as the Mountain West season progresses.
Hawai‘i will return to Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for its next Mountain West series against San José State on Oct. 9 and 10. The first match is scheduled for 7 p.m. HT.
2026 Rainbow Wahine Volleyball
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