So far, Hawaii's beach volleyball team has adjusted to the Big West's new championship format pretty well.
11thThe No. 2 ranked Rainbow Wahine defeated California State University Bakersfield 5-0 in pool play on Thursday and defeated defending champion Long Beach State University 4-1 on Friday at Long Beach City Community College. He qualified for the semi-final round.
The Big West changed its championship format this year from its previous double-elimination setup. Each team will play pool play on his first day, followed by a single-elimination match on his second day.
The University of Hawaii (22-11) won Pool A and will play either UC Davis or California State University Bakersfield on Friday at 9:15 a.m. Hawaii time. Cal Poly, which wins Pool B, will take on either LBSU or CSUN before UH's semifinal match.
Sacramento State, a Big West beach volleyball affiliate, was eliminated from the tournament Thursday with two losses. Six other teams are still active. The championship match is set for 11:15 a.m. Standard Time, with the winner receiving an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament to be held in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
With her two wins on Thursday with partner Pani Napoleon, senior Kaylee Gragau became the third Rainbow Wahine Beach athlete to reach 100 career wins in dual matches. She is trailing only Ali Homayoun (115th) and Emily Maglio (108th).
In addition to Gragau/Napoleon on Court 2, three other Wahine pairs dominated the day. Jamie Santer/Alana Embry on Court 1, Riley Wagoner/Sydney Amitu on Court 4, and Sarah Burton/Caprice Lorenzo on Court 5.
On this day, the matches were split between three court teams: Sidney Miller/Anna Maidment.
California State won the first three sanctioned Big West championships in the sport from 2016-2018, but Cal Poly (2019-2022) and LBSU (2023) have won since. There is.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. Contact him at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.