MĀNOA — Heading into its regular season finale against Long Beach State on Saturday night, the University of Hawai“i women's volleyball team knew it was facing a do-or-die scenario.
Win against The Beach, and the Rainbow Wahine would take the sixth and final spot in next week's Big West Tournament, giving themselves a chance to win their sixth straight conference title. Lose, and their season would suddenly be over far earlier than they're accustomed to.
Following a 25-16, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16 loss to The Beach, Hawai‘i's fate was sealed. UH's season came to an end at 12-17 overall and 8-10 in Big West play, its streak of five straight conference titles snapped in its final year of Big West membership.
Excluding the 2020 season in which the Big West did not hold a women's volleyball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rainbow Wahine will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992.
A season-high turnstile crowd of 5,137 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched an intense match through the first three sets. After the teams split the first two sets, both squads were tied at 23 in the crucial third set, the match hanging in the balance. The Beach pulled away with consecutive points with a Bri Gunderson service error and Tyla Reese Mane service receive error on the ensuing point.
Long Beach State pounced on the Rainbow Wahine in Set 4, opening with a 7-1 advantage that was too much for the 'Bows to overcome.
"Definitely frustrated and angry. It is what it is," Hawai‘i head coach Robyn Ah Mow said after the match. "That's how the season has been. We did have a chance. We had to win this game. ... Definitely disappointed."
Gunderson had a team-high 16 kills for the Rainbow Wahine, while Mane added 14. Following the match, the Rainbow Wahine honored Gunderson, Mane and Morghn Monahan as part of the program's senior night festivities.
"I think the one word I can use to explain my overall emotions is definitely grateful," said Mane, an ‘Aiea High School alumnus. "This has been one of my biggest blessings, and I'm just so thankful for the opportunity that I've been given to play in front of all these fans, all these supporters, and be able to play in front of my family and my friends. It's just been the best three years."
Long Beach State (21-8, 14-4) was led by Rhiann Sheffie's match-high 18 kills. The Beach will host the Big West tournament and had already qualified prior to Saturday's match.
The 2025 Big West Tournament, which takes place in Long Beach, begins on Wednesday and concludes on Saturday, Nov. 29.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
