DAVIS, Calif. >> The Rainbow Wahine volleyball team has struggled this season closing out sets.
Faced with a familiar predicament again on Friday night, Hawaii learned from past losses and closed out its first road match of the season with a win.
Natasha Burns had 13 kills and McKenna Granato and Casey Castillo buried 10 each to help Hawaii open up Big West play with a 25-18, 25-21, 26-24 sweep of UC Davis at The Pavilion.
“It’s definitely reassuring and it’s a great note to start off on,” Castillo said. “It was a lot of payoff of what we worked on in the practice gym. It’s definitely nice to see that come together as well as fighting off the first road-game jitters.”
Faith Maafala had 25 assists and Norene Iosia added 19 assists, 12 digs and seven kills for Hawaii (5-5, 1-0), which ended a two-match losing streak. Tita Akiu had 13 digs in the win before a crowd of 958, a season high for UC Davis. Hawaii outhit UC Davis .289 to .202.
“We’ve been doing drills in practice, focusing on closing out matches,” said Burns, who added four blocks.
Lauren Matias had 11 kills and Emily Allen added nine for UC Davis (8-6, 0-2). Ally Reyes had 19 digs for the Aggies, who have lost their last three.
“They just play good, tough volleyball, good defense,” UC Davis coach Dan Conners said. “(They) served great tonight, hit the ball really hard and mixed it up with off speed and they get you off balance and score a lot of points.”
Hawaii trailed 22-20 in Set 3 and saw UC Davis serve for the set at 24-23. Burns’ kill down the middle tied it at 24 and Sarah Liva buried an attempt from the middle to put the Rainbow Wahine ahead 25-24.
After a UC Davis timeout, Granato ended the match when her shot from the back row fell to the floor.
“We have been working on a reset mentality,” Castillo said. “No matter what happens previously, if it’s tight or even if we’re up, it’s about one play at a time. I think if we have that mind-set and maintain it, just like this ball right here, right now, the score won’t matter.”
Hawaii closed out Set 1 on a 4-0 run with kills from Granato and Angel Gaskin, a Liva ace, and a block from Gaskin and Burns. The Rainbow Wahine outhit the Aggies .364 to .182 in the opening set.
The Rainbow Wahine also finished off Set 2 on a 4-0 run. A block from Liva and Iosia put Hawaii ahead 23-21. A UC Davis hitting error gave Hawaii set point and Akiu’s ace ended the set.
“At those points, that’s how we lose those games,” Hawaii coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos said. “We just have to keep digging and keep digging and play our ball. At times I think we try too much. There’s a good pass, a hit that’s just outside, and we try to change things.”
The play of Hawaii’s middles provided an extra dimension to the offense. Burns had five kills in the first set.
“Natasha is doing an awesome job,” Ah Mow-Santos said. “She’s picked it up in the last two and a half weeks with our games. She’s keeping it going. Norene was having a hard time connecting with our middles. She’s doing a better job now. It’s clicking and we’re trying to get better each game.”
Burns said the connection with her two setters has been improving.
“I think it keeps on getting better and hope it keeps getting better,” Burns said. “We’re working on it.”
Hawaii plays at UC Irvine (7-6, 1-0) on Sunday.
