FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton's return to Titan Gym after more than a month on the road was spoiled Friday night as No. 10 Hawai'i scored a 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-13) Big West Conference sweep.
The Titans (0-15, 0-3) were out hit .362 to .053 on the night as the Rainbow Wahine (13-1, 3-0) committed just 10 errors in 94 attempts.
Kandace Thomas set a new season-high with a .700 attacking percentage for the Titans, tallying seven kills on 10 attempts without an error. Freshman J'Nai Higgins saw extended time as the team's setter on Friday night, leading the way with a career high 11 assists, her first match with double-digit helpers. Mackenzie Olsen added seven dimes as the Titans finished with 21 assists on 23 kills. Paige Reed paced the defense with 12 digs.
For the Rainbow Wahine, Olivia Magill, Tai Manu-Olevao and Kalei Greeley led the offense with eight kills apiece while Nikki Taylor and Emily Maglio added six each. Sophomore Kendra Koelsch led the team with 31 assists after starting setter Tayler Higgins exited the game in the opening set with an apparent left ankle injury.
The Titans dropped the opening set after being held to just six kills in the frame, two apiece from Summer Kerins and Kyra Smith. The Rainbow Wahine put together a 6-0 run to turn a two point lead into a 12-4 advantage and would outscore the Titans 19-7 to close out the opening frame.
Kerins finished with three kills while Smith added four.
In the second set, Hawai'i continued its stellar hitting with a .326 (19-5-43) clip while the Titans connected at a .114 percentage.
The Rainbow Wahine put the match away in the third set after jumping out to a 15-6 lead and never looked back.
The Titans will return to action on Oct. 10 when they take on UC Davis on the road.
