Rainbow Wahine Secure First Win of Season Against Utah Valley

The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team silenced early-season critics by clinching their first win of the 2025 season, defeating Utah Valley in straight sets on Friday night.

After a challenging start, the Rainbow Wahine showcased a cohesive performance, excelling in hitting, passing, and blocking against a formidable Utah Valley squad.

Third-year outside hitter Stella Adeyemi delivered a standout performance, recording a career-high 17 kills with a .433 hitting percentage, alongside seven digs and two aces.

Junior Cha'lei Reid contributed significantly, securing the match-winning point among her 15 kills.

Reflecting on the team's improved communication, Adeyemi expressed, "Tonight felt really good. We've been waiting for this win for a long time. We're going to keep going and implement what went well in other matches."

The Rainbow Wahine are set to face winless St. John's to conclude the Outrigger Invitational at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Associate head coach Kaleo Baxter praised the team's unity and composure, stating, "We knew that this plane was already ready to take off. It was just a matter of playing a complete game from start to finish."

Sophomore setter Adrianna Arquette orchestrated the offense effectively, achieving an assist rate of .472, indicating nearly every other ball she set resulted in a kill.

Arquette noted, "Everyone stepped up today. I think our serves were good, passing was great, and our hitters did a hell of a job."

Middle blocker Bri Gunderson was instrumental at the net, contributing to nine blocks, including two solo efforts, as Hawai'i outblocked Utah Valley 12-9.

Utah Valley's Sami Blackett, daughter of former UH men's basketball player Jeff Blackett, led her team with 12 kills and five digs.

As the Rainbow Wahine prepare for their upcoming match against St. John's, they aim to build on this momentum and continue their pursuit of excellence in the 2025 season.