HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team (13-6, 9-1 Big West) will host a pair of pivotal Big West matches this weekend against defending champions and 11^th-ranked Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara. In a battle between the Big West's top two teams, the Rainbow Wahine will take on the undefeated Cal Poly (19-1, 9-0 Big West) on Friday, Oct. 26 which will be FREE YOUTH NIGHT and a WHITEOUT at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH will then battle UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, October 27. Both matches are slated to start at 7:00 p.m.
 
The 'Bows returned home after sweeping both UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton on the road. Hawai'i downed the Highlanders 25-10, 25-17, 25-22  and then overpowered the Titans, 25-3, 25-14, 25-13. For her efforts, libero Tita Akiu earned her second Big West Defensive Player of the Week honor after recorded match-highs in digs in both matches with 19 digs in each. Akiu, a senior transfer from Texas Tech, leads the league averaging 4.81 digs per set and has amassed 337 total digs this season overall in 70 sets.
 
Continuing to lead the Rainbow Wahine offense is senior outside hitter McKenna Granato, who has 227 kills overall and is averaging 3.29 k/s. She is now just 42 kills away from becoming just the 20^th member of UH's 1,000 kill club. Last week, she led UH with a combined 20 kills in UH's two road wins.
 
Controlling UH's 6-2 offense (which leads the league in both assists and attacks per set) has been senior setter Faith Ma'afala and junior setter/hitter Norene Iosia. Ma'afala has issued a team-high 477 assists thus far. At CSUF she went on a serving assault on the Titans' defense, serving the first 17-straight points. Iosia has been the lynchpin for the UH offense. She is second on the team in almost  every statistical category, including kills (157), assists (336), digs (203)and blocks (37). She is also third on the team with 17 service aces.
 
HAWAI'I (13-6, 9-1 Big West) vs. No. 11 CAL POLY (19-1, 9-0 Big West)
Date/time: Friday, Oct. 26, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Site: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, HI
Promotions: First Hawaiian Bank is the sponsor on Friday for the special "White Out Night" and all fans are encouraged to wear their favorite white UH apparel. First Hawaiian Bank will have a "Spin the Wheel" game at Gate A and six (6) random lucky fans will win a $25 Zippy's gift card during the match. The 2018-19 Men's and Women's basketball teams will be introduced during intermission.
Ticket Promotions: FREE YOUTH NIGHT!!!  All youth (ages 4 to High School) will receive free admission to the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball match versus Cal Poly on Friday, October 26, 2018. Free youth tickets will be available on game day at the Stan Sheriff Center Box office (opens at 9:00 a.m.) while supplies last.
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, online at ETicketHawaii.com, or by phone at (808) 944-2697 (BOWS).
Television: Spectrum Sports will televise both of UH's matches this week with Kanoa Leahey handling the play-by-play and Lisa Strand Ma'a doing the color commentary. The pregame/post-game show will feature Scott Robbs, Ryan Kalei Tsuji, and Dave Shoji. Fans in Hawai'i can watch on Spectrum channels 16 and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: UH's matches will be streamed live locally to Spectrum customers only. Streaming video of the matches will be available for mainland fans for all home matches. Go to BigWest.tv for video stream.
Radio: ESPN 1420 am will air Friday's match with Tiff Wells handling the play-by-play.
Audio Webcast: Listen live online at www.espn1420am.com or through the "Sideline Hawaii" app
Live Stats: Link available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Series History: Hawai'i holds a 39-to-7 record over the Mustangs. But Cal Poly has won the last three-straight matches. Last season, UH fell in both matches in five sets. Earlier this season, Cal Poly held off the 'Bows in four sets, 19-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-27.

HAWAI'I (13-9, 9-1 Big West) vs. UC SANTA BARBARA (13-9, 5-5 Big West)
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Site: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, HI
Promotions: California Hotel & Casino is the sponsor on Saturday and will award a Vacations Hawaii trip for two to the newly renovated California Hotel & Casino to the winner of the "Shaka Nene" contest at intermission. Sign up for your chance to win at the sports marketing table at Gate A.  There will also be an autograph session following the Saturday night match.
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office, online at ETicketHawaii.com, or by phone at (808) 944-2697 (BOWS).
Television: Spectrum Sports will televise both of UH's matches this week with Kanoa Leahey handling the play-by-play and Lisa Strand Ma'a doing the color commentary. The pregame/post-game show will feature Scott Robbs, Ryan Kalei Tsuji, and Dave Shoji. Fans in Hawai'i can watch on Spectrum channels 16 and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: UH's matches will be streamed live locally to Spectrum customers only. Streaming video of the matches will be available for mainland fans for all home matches. Go to BigWest.tv for video stream.
Radio: NBC Sports Radio Hawaii AM 1500 will Saturday's match with Tiff Wells handling the play-by-play.
Audio Webcast: Listen live online at www.nbcsportsradiohawaii.com or through the "Sideline Hawaii" app
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased through FullertonTitans.com.
Live Stats: Link available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Series History: Hawai'i holds a 41-to-8 record over UC Santa Barbara. Earlier this season, the Rainbow Wahine outlasted the Gauchos in a five-set battle, 19-25, 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, 15-10.