O'AHU, Hawai'i - Nevada Volleyball opened up their road series against Hawai'i Thursday, falling in three sets (25-18, 25-20, 25-15) to the current number one team in the Mountain West.
Nevada fought through a competitive opening stretch of the second set against Hawaii, tying the score at 4-4 behind kills from Madison Long and Mckaley Herr. A kill from Adriana Dorn and a block by Ceren Sert and Dorn kept the deficit at one midway through the frame, while a block from Herr and Karly Bonaventure helped the Pack stay within reach at 9-12. However, the Rainbow Wahine used a series of service runs to create separation, including back-to-back aces from Panna Ratkai that extended the lead to 17-10. Nevada found points from Sert, Long, and Herr late in the set, but Hawaii maintained control behind strong attacking play from Rachel Purser and Miliana Sylvester, closing out the set 25-18.
Nevada came out aggressively in the third set, opening on a 4-1 run behind two early kills from Mckaley Herr and a solo block from Madison Long. The Wolf Pack maintained the advantage through the early stages of the set, with Herr continuing to lead the offense and a kill from Karly Bonaventure helping Nevada stay within striking distance at 13-9. Hawaii responded with a pivotal 8-1 run midway through the frame, fueled by the serving of Panna Ratkai, who recorded a service ace while the Rainbow Wahine added two blocks to build a 9-5 advantage. Nevada fought back behind kills from Paige Thies, Herr and Long, cutting the deficit to 19-17 late in the set. However, Hawaii answered with three consecutive points to regain control before closing out the match with a 25-20 set victory. Herr continued to battle until the final point of the set, recording three late kills for the Wolf Pack.
Nevada showed fight early in the third set, building a 6-4 advantage behind three early kills from Mckaley Herr and strong attacking play from Madison Long, Kamryn Tifft, and Paige Thies. The Rainbow Wahine answered midway through the frame, using a service ace from Panna Ratkai and several key kills from Rachel Purser, Maeli Cormier, and Miliana Sylvester to turn a two-point deficit into a 13-10 lead. Nevada stayed within striking distance as kills from Thies, Long, and Adriana Dorn cut the score to 17-14, but Hawaii continued to control play down the stretch. A block and another Ratkai ace extended the advantage before the Rainbow Wahine closed the set on a 7-1 run, securing the 25-15 victory
Mckaley Herr led the Nevada attack with 12 kills while hitting .310 and added three blocks, while Madison Long contributed seven kills and a block. Paige Thies added six kills and 10 digs, and Adriana Dorn directed the offense with 22 assists, seven digs, and two blocks. Nevada also received offensive production from Karly Bonaventure and Kamryn Tifft, who each recorded two kills, with Tifft hitting an efficient .667. Defensively, Masyn Navarro anchored the back row with a match-high 13 digs, while Lara Pacheco added nine digs and Ambri Hanohano chipped in five assists and four digs. At the net, Herr paced the Wolf Pack with three blocks, while Dorn and Ceren Sert added two blocks apiece.
