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Defensive Specialist Savanah Kahakai

BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
University of Hawaii volleyball player Savanah Kahakai is normally a back-row player

Although the opportunity caught Savanah Kahakai by surprise, the Rainbow Wahine freshman didn’t flinch playing front row.

Strictly a back-row player in her first two matches, Kahakai rotated to the front in the fourth set of Sunday’s match against San Diego State. The 5-foot-8 Kahakai delivered two kills and a solo block before closing out the victory from the service line.

DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
SAVANAH KAHAKAI

» Age: 17

» Class: Freshman

» Major: Family Resources

» Statistically speaking: Appeared in all 10 sets in UH’s first three matches, started against Arizona State … Leads the Rainbow Wahine with four service aces … Tied for third on the team with 20 digs, including nine against Arizona State.

Her performance might have reverberated from Manoa to Kalihi.

The Farrington graduate’s father, former Governor running back Talbot Kahakai, played for legendary coach Skippa Diaz. Kahakai’s big game came a day after Diaz died.

"He was a big person to my dad, his football coach … kept him disciplined and motivated," said Kahakai. "So I would say that game was for my dad and for him."

ON THIS DAY: 9/4/2000

Led by Lily Kahumoku’s 16 kills and eight digs and freshman Kim Willoughby’s 10 kills, the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team sweeps UCLA 15-8, 16-14, 15-12 to close the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic. UH goes on to finish 31-2 and advances to the final four in Virginia.

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