RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside (7-14, 3-8 Big West) played its final home showing before a four-match road trip, falling 3-1 to Hawai'i (8-14, 4-7 Big West) on Saturday afternoon at the SRC Arena.
Sophia Ewalefo recorded her fourth double-double in her last seven appearances with 13 kills and 14 digs, while Misu Nguyen registered three aces and a season-high 15 digs.
Mia Delahoussaye, who recorded her second 20-kill performance in blue and gold, paced UC Riverside at the first media break with four of the Highlanders' six kills. UCR trailed 15-11 at the match's first stoppage after falling behind 5-1, but the West Covina native continued leading the way with a set-high seven kills on 12 swings (7-1-12).
Kylie Proctor and Andrea Brewer set the tone early for set two with UCR's first block of the afternoon. The Highlanders later took their first lead of the match on a second straight Hawai'i attack error and led 7-4 at the set's first timeout. The power shift to UCR's favor continued with a 15-6 Highlander lead after Makena Tong emphatically put down a lofting free ball.
Proctor followed suit from her middle blocker position to make it 17-8, and UCR leveled the match after sporting a clean .481 hitting clip with only one error (14-1-27).
UC Riverside generated six of its first seven set three points off kills, getting two apiece from Brewer and Layla Hooks. Brewer's sixth kill overall put the Highlanders at 10 on the scoreboard to keep them in Hawai'i's shadow. The home side fought off five set points before the Rainbow Wahine went up in the match.
UCR traded blows with Hawai'i in set four and trailed just 10-9 at the first media break. The Highlanders never were behind by more than four for the majority of the frame, getting their primary offense from 13 kills and 4 Rainbow Wahine attack errors.
The Highlanders hit .323 in an offensively spirited set four for both sides.
UC Riverside now begins a four-match road trip on Friday, November 7, with a 6:00 pm first serve at Cal State Fullerton on ESPN+.
