Box Score Honolulu, HI—For the second year in a row, the Highlanders took a set from volleyball powerhouse Hawai'i. UC Riverside lost a tough three sets to one (15-25, 16-25, 25-18, 23-25) decision Friday night in front nearly 7,000 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Helena Peric led UCR with 11 kills, and Fabiana Rosas helped out with 9, but the Rainbow Wahine got 17 kills from Nikki Taylor on their way to a 3-1 victory over the Highlanders.

Hawai'i jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first set, forcing a Highlanders timeout.  UCR (7-16, 2-8) later trailed, 20-10, the teams would then split the next 10 points as the Rainbow Wahine (19-1, 9-0) took the first set 25-15, aided by Nikki Taylor's six kills.

The second set played out almost identically as the first, as UC Riverside again found itself trailing 10-5. This time UCR would rally to score seven of ten points to get Hawai'i's lead down to 13-12. The Rainbow Wahine would respond with a run of their own, taking 12 of the final 16 points to close-out the second set. It was a pair of service aces by Savanah Kahakai that finished off the second set 25-16, giving Hawai'i control of the match, two sets to none.

Although the Highlanders dropped the second set, they were inspired by taking seven out of 10 points from #6 team in the nation, and it would show in the third set. UC Riverside would jump out to their own 10-5 lead to open the third set behind a pair of kills from Meg Graham, and pressuring the Rainbow Wahine into three errors during the run. Hawai'i then called their first timeout of the set, but the Highlander momentum continued once play resumed.

Fabiana Rosas then had three of her six third set kills, which helped to stretch the Highlander lead to 18-10, forcing Hawai'i to interrupt play with their second and final timeout of the set. Hawai'i would close the UCR margin to four with the score 20-16, but visiting UC Riverside then took five of the final seven points to claim the third set, punctuated by back-to-back Alexis Urbach kills.

Each team would have a run in the fourth set. The Highlanders, while leading 6-5 rallied to win seven of nine points to increase their lead to 13-7. Hawai'i then responded with a run of their own, taking nine of the next 10 points to lead 16-14. The Highlanders battled the volleyball powerhouse for every point down the stretch, not allowing the Rainbow Wahine to lead by more than three points for the rest of match.

The teams would split the final 18 points of the match, with the Rainbow Wahine eventually winning the fourth set 25-23, and the match 3-1.

Chelsea Doyle paced UCR with 38 assists, while Maddie Hubbell led defensively with 14 digs.

The Highlanders return home to face CSUN Tuesday, November 3 at 7pm.