The Long Beach State women's volleyball team's road though nonconference play hasn't been easy, and on Friday, it got even more difficult as the No. 23-ranked 49ers lost its third consecutive match to a Top 25 opponent.
The ‘Niners came up short against No. 10-host Hawaii in five sets —25-17, 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11 — at the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Invitational.
Senior outside hitter Caitlin Leduox led the 49ers with 18 kills on the evening, while Janisa Johnson added 12 to go with three aces. Johnson also had a team-leading 17 digs with libero Lauren Minkel..
In set five, the 49ers had three early service errors, but held close and took the lead at 5-4 on an Alma Serna kill. Hawaii quickly rallied to retake the lead, though, and moved ahead, 10-7, on a block from Kanani Danielson and Brittany Hewitt. LBSU's Delainey Aigner-Swesey and Haleigh Hampton blocked two straight to tie the set at 10, but the Rainbow Wahine won the next four points and took the match with a 15-11 victory to seal the matcch.
Danielson, who had a double-double with 18 kills and 11 digs, also had five blocks, but was topped by Hewitt who finished with 12 total blocks, part of 20 on the night for Hawaii that ultimately proved to be the difference, despite improved play from the 49ers throughout.
The 49ers took a quick lead in the first set, moving ahead 5-3 after an ace from Caitlin Ledoux. Hitting Ledoux again, the 49ers took a three point lead at 6-3, but Hawaii scored four straight points to take their first lead at 7-6. The 49ers rallied again to take a 14-10 lead behind two kills from Johnson.
Hawaii rebounded from the deficit, however, tying the set at 14 and taking a lead at 15-14 after a block from Jane Croson and Emily Hartong. Hartong picked up an ace from the back row, and after a Ledoux kill was erased on a foot under the net call, Hawaii put together a big push to put the first set on ice with a 25-16 score.
The 49ers moved out to another fast start in the second set, scoring the first four points of the set. Hawaii slowly moved back into the set, eventually tying the game at 10-10, but the 49ers went to Johnson for a kill to keep the lead to take a three-point edge. Hawaii tied the set again on a block from Brittany Hewitt and Mita Uiato, but LBSU held on to the lead for good.
A kill from Johnson extended the lead to 19-17, and her third ace of the set gave the 49ers a three-point edge. The Beach continued to push to 22-17, and took the set 25-21 on a Ledoux kill and a service error from Croson.
The quick start continued for the ‘Niners in the third, as two Johnson kills in a row put Long Beach State in front 7-3. Hawaii pulled to within two at 9-7 with a Croson kill, but the 49ers pushed back and led 13-8 after a kill from Ledoux. Hawaii cut the lead to one at 13-12, but four straight points, capped by an ace from Ledoux that rolled over the net put the 49ers well in front, and Long Beach State held on to win the set 25-23.
The ‘Niners took an early lead in the fourth, moving ahead 3-1 in a Hampton kill. Hawaii regained the lead at 4-3 on a Hewitt kill, and extended their lead to three points on a Croson and Emily Hartong block 8-5. The 49ers tied the set twice more, the latest at 13-13 on a Hewitt error, but the Rainbow Wahine continued to hold on to the lead. After moving ahead at 19-16 on a block from Hartong and Danielson, Hawaii finished out the set with a 25-19 win.
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