FULLERTON, Calif. -- Emily Hartong and Nikki Taylor combined for 29 kills to lead No. 12 Hawai'i to a 3-0 win over Cal State Fullerton in front of 887 fans in Titan Gym which ends the Titans 2013 season.
With the win the Rainbow Wahine forced a three-way Big West Championship as both UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge won their matches and each finish with a 13-3 conference record. By virtue of a complicated tie-breaker, Santa Barbara earns the automatic qualifier spot for the Big West.
Fullerton ends its season at 11-17, 4-12, while No. 12 Hawai'i (24-4, 13-3) will await its fate for the postseason tomorrow night when teams are announced by the NCAA for the 64-team bracket.
For the Titans, the team started hot and finished battling, but the size, depth and accuracy of the Rainbow Wahine reigned supreme. Set scores were: 25-19, 25-18 and 27-25 as it took Hawai'i three match points to win the final frame. Hawai'i finished the night hitting for a .368 efficiency.
Seniors Bre Moreland and Alyse Hensley, as they have most of the season, led the Titans attack with Moreland tallying 11 kills and Hensley, 10. Four other players were honored, three other seniors, Leah Stevens, Leah Best, Abbie Miraldi, and graduating junior Kristen Brandsma in a senior ceremony prior to the match.
Junior setter Julie Consani had another double double performance as she recorded 37 assists and led the team in digs with 11.
Please Note: The photo gallery was shot with the loving hands of an amateur.
