The Rainbow Wahine outscored Loyola Marymount 18-7 to end the second game.

The non-conference volleyball match was watched by 5,845 at Stan Sheriff Center.

Victoria Prince (13 kills) and Alicia Arnott (12) led the offense while Kanoe Kamana'o (15 digs) and Ashley Watanabe (22) anchored the defense.

All the frustration Hawai'i felt yesterday, when its eight-year winning streak against unranked teams ended in five games, came rushing out in a torrent of points in Game 1. Hawai'i lost five of the first six points, then went on a 17-6 surge behind Arnott, Prince and a relentless defense.

That forced LMU to burn both its timeouts so when Kamana'o served six straight — to put UH up 26-13 — there was no way to slow the slide. Arnott, who celebrated starting with six first-game kills, was also a large part of that run along with Juliana Sanders.

The Rainbow Wahine brought themselves back to earth in a heartbeat with another slow start in Game 2 that mushroomed into a massive deficit. When they took their final timeout, they were down 13-6 and hitting negative .417.

The gap grew to 22-13 before some of last year's magic made its first 2005 showing. It was instigated by Tara Hittle, who replaced a struggling Sarah Mason to basically replicate last year's starting lineup.

UH closed to 27-20. Heather Hughes, whose 29 kills buried the 'Bows Friday, hit out and Hittle blasted her third kill. LMU called time and came back to a Watanabe ace. Krista Houseman hit into the net to make it 27-24.

After an LMU kill, Prince hammered a ball down, Houseman hit out, Susie Boogaard's serve was shanked and Prince tied it at 28 with her seventh kill. The Lions got to 29 first when Hughes got her fifth kill — to raise her hitting percentage to zero.

Hittle's fourth kill erased game point. The Lions followed with a dink into the net and Prince hammered game point after a spectacular save by Hittle.

She would start the third game and while her hitting cooled, her passing did not. The Rainbows scored the first three points, weathered a few mini-LMU runs and kept their advantage at four or better most of the game.

NOTES

The Ilustre sisters — Heidi, the beach volleyball star, and Hedder, the munchkin defensive specialist — turned out to be the offensive stars of the alumnae exhibition that preceded tonight's match. Each had seven kills, with Heidi helping the White team to a 30-23, 30-29 victory over the Green.

The final three points were played with all 30 alumnae on the court. The libero-like players dominated the match with Aven Lee, Hedder Ilustre, Melissa Villaroman and Tehani (Miyashiro) Tiatoa — who all played almost solely back row for the Rainbow Wahine — shining at the net. The roles were so blurred that Tiatoa tried to feed Nikki Hubbert — a setter — a quick-set. The attempt failed.