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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:35 p.m., Saturday, November 15, 2008

Volleyball: UH extends win streak to 10

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaii's Jamie Houston hits against the defense of Utah Valley's Kristin Anderson (17) and Marla Morin.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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In its Western Athletic Conference Tournament warmup, sixth-ranked Hawai'i extended its volleyball winning streak to 10 with a 25-19, 25-14, 25-10 victory over Utah Valley tonight.

The non-conference match was watched by 4,221 at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine (23-3) will host their first WAC Tournament beginning Thursday here. They open against Boise State at 7:30 p.m.

Jamie Houston had 10 kills to lead Hawai'i and freshman Stephanie Ferrell had nine in two sets. Sophomore Kayli Broadbent had 10 kills for UVU.

The 'Bows could not cope with Broadbent in the opening set, but no one else hurt them. Broadbent, who came into the match hitting .179, was 8-for-12 (.667) and opened the match with an ace as UVU (10-12) burst to a 10-5 advantage.

Hawai'i switched setters at 4-7, with Stephanie Brandt coming in for Dani Mafua, who limped out of the arena. Mafua came back with her right thigh re-wrapped and ice on her hamstring, and did not play again.

The Rainbows soon rallied, pulling ahead 15-13 with an 8-1 surge jump-started by two loud kills inside the 10-foot line by Amber Kaufman and Houston. Aneli Cubi-Otineru had three straight aces in the surge. Hawai'i collected six aces in the set, with Brandt getting two and Tara Hittle one.

Both teams hit .385 in the first set. The 'Bows did not have their first block until the third point of Set 2, with Ferrell coming in for Cubi-Otineru and stuffing a ball with Kaufman. UH would get four more stuffs in the next nine points and go ahead 10-2.

UVU cut its deficit to 14-10 with a 4-0 run, but after a timeout the Rainbows scored four straight — three from Kanani Danielson. Reserves Jayme Lee and Amanda Simmons came in for the final three points and Lee served them all, with Simmons contributing an assist and the 'Bows' seventh block.

Ferrell started again in the third set, along with Liz Ka'aihue at libero. Hawai'i broke to an 8-1 lead, with two more aces from Brandt. Then Ferrell served eight straight to make it 17-2.