RIVERSIDE, Calif.— The UC Riverside Women's Volleyball Team (5-9, 0-3) will head off the mainland this weekend as the Highlanders will face conference foe Hawaii Saturday night in the first contest of a four-match road stint.

Live streaming will be available on Big West TV.

SCOUTING THE RAINBOW WAHINE
Hawaii enters the weekend with a 6-5 record and is 2-0 in Big West play. The team is currently riding a two-match win streak after sweeping UC Davis and defeating UC Irvine in a five set battle this past weekend. Before facing the Highlanders on Saturday, the Rainbow Wahine will take on Cal State Fullerton Friday night.

LAST MATCH
The Highlanders fell in their competition this past weekend as the No. 15 Cal Poly Mustangs took the match 3-0. Sophomore Yuliya Ushakova led the Highlander attack grabbing nine kills and freshman Nailah Jones followed just behind her with seven of her own.

BIG ON DIGS
The Highlanders' defense has held strong all year as the team's 973 digs leads the Big West Conference and its 17.38 digs p/set average ranks 2nd. 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 seven of her last eight 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 9.82 assists p/set average currently ranks 3rd in the Big West and her 550 total assists rank 2nd.

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.

Her 5.07 kills p/set average currently ranks 5th in the nation and her 213 total kills rank 37th.

SWEEPING AWAY THE COMPETITION
The Highlanders have earned two of their five wins in sweeping fashion topping both UMASS Lowell and Idaho State 3-0.