RIVERSIDE, Calif.— After a four-match road stint, the Highlanders return to the SRC Arena Friday night as the UC Riverside Women's Volleyball Team is set to host Hawaii for its first home match in nearly a month. The Highlanders will then head to Cal Baptist Tuesday evening to take on the Lancers in the Crosstown Showdown.
SCOUTING THE RAINBOW WAHINE
Hawai'i comes in at the top of the Big West Conference in 2nd place and only trails undefeated Cal Poly by half a match. The last time the Rainbow Wahine and Highlanders met, Hawaii earned a three set victory 15-19-17.
SCOUTING THE LANCERS
CBU currently rides a six-match win streak and in those six matches have outscored its opponents 18-8. They have only lost one matchup at home back in September as the Lancers fell 3-1 to UT Rio Grande Valley.
BIG ON DIGS
The Highlanders' defense has held strong all year as the team's 17.20 digs p/set leads the Big West Conference and their 1204 total digs rank 3rd. This feat has helped UCR extend plays, stay in rallies, and eventually turn them into Highlander points.
FRESHMAN ON FIRE
Freshman outside-hitter Nailah Jones has been a true offensive force in her first year as a Highlander as she has posted double-digit kills in nien of her last 11 matches. This includes two dominant 15 kill performances over Nevada and San Francisco, and a career high 20 over UCSB this past weekend.
COUNT ON CHELSEA
Senior setter Chelsea Doyle has been crucial to the Highlander offense, setting up her teammates at every opportunity. Her 9.17 assists p/set average currently ranks 4th in the Big West and her 660 total assists rank 3rd.
Doyle currently sits 4th on the Highlanders all-time record book with 3,298 assists and is on pace to move into 3rd and possibly 2nd by the end of the season.
SWEEPING AWAY THE COMPETITION
The Highlanders have earned three of their six wins in sweeping fashion topping both UMASS Lowell, Idaho State, and Cal State Fullerton 3-0.
KAI DON'T LIE
Senior outside hitter Kaiulani Ahuna has been nothing short of spectacular so far in the 2018 season. Opening weekend, Ahuna broke two program records notching 30 kills (Rally-Scoring Era Record) in a win over Montana and then smashing 33 more (DI Record) on Eastern Washington to become the first Highlander to ever put up 30+ on back-to-back days. Following this weekend, Ahuna led the NCAA in total kills and kills p/set and was awarded Player of the Week Awards from the Big West Conference, VolleyMob, and the AVCA.
On September 14th, Ahuna would again make the Highlander history book breaking her own personal record and UCR's Division I record with a 34 kill performance against Idaho. She now has recorded three of UCR's top-six single match performances.
