HONOLULU – The University of Hawai’i beach volleyball team, under the direction of new head coach Danny Alvarez, made an immediate statement, upsetting preseason top-ranked UCLA 3-2 on at Queen’s Beach. The victory, part of the opening day of THE OUTRIGGER Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic, marked just the second time in program history the Rainbow Wahine have defeated a No. 1 ranked opponent and the first since 2015.
The day wasn’t without its challenges for Hawai’i. They first faced No. 6 Texas, falling in a closely contested 3-2 match. However, the team demonstrated resilience, rebounding to overcome the Bruins in a thrilling finish as twilight descended on Queen’s Beach. The comeback win snapped a 15-match losing streak against UCLA, including several painful defeats in NCAA Tournament play. Their last victory over the Bruins came in 2018 at the Ching Complex, a 5-0 sweep.
The match against UCLA was a back-and-forth affair. UCLA took an early 2-0 lead, putting the pressure on the Rainbow Wahine. But Alvarez’s squad refused to yield, winning the final three courts to secure the upset. The decisive point came on court 5, where Kristen Serrano and Kiera Cornman battled to a three-set victory over Mallory LaBreche and Hannah Fleming, 21-16, 15-21, 15-13. Serrano, a three-year veteran from Guam, and Cornman, a freshman making an immediate impact, proved to be a formidable pairing.
The momentum shift began with a straight-set win from Julia Lawrenz and Izadora Stedile on court 2, defeating Alexa Fernandez and Cassie Dodd 21-10, 21-9. That was followed by a nail-biting three-set victory on court 3, where Sophie Buschmann and Julia Thelle edged Kaley Matthews and Ensley Alden, 18-21, 21-17, 15-10. These wins leveled the score, setting the stage for Serrano and Cornman’s dramatic finish.
Lawrenz and Stedile were the only Hawai’i pair to go undefeated on the day, securing two points for the Rainbow Wahine. Stedile, a recent addition to the team after an All-American indoor campaign at Hofstra, quickly established herself as a key player, teaming with Lawrenz to rally past Anna and Kacka Pavelkova of Texas in a 10-21, 22-20, 15-9 victory. This win provided a crucial point in the earlier match against the Longhorns.
Senior Sydney Miller and transfer Emily Heintzelman also contributed to the team’s success, earning a three-set win over Ella Keeven and Lily Davis of Texas. While it wasn’t enough to secure a win against Texas, it demonstrated the depth and potential of the Rainbow Wahine roster. Heintzelman, a transfer from Tulane, showed she could contribute immediately.
Despite the loss to Texas, the Rainbow Wahine demonstrated a fighting spirit and a willingness to compete. The team secured two points against the Longhorns, with Lawrenz and Stedile, and Miller and Heintzelman each earning a three-set victory. The results of the Texas match were as follows:
- Brecht Piersma/Katie Hashman (TEX) def. Sarah Burton/Caprice Lorenzo (UH) 21-9, 21-16
- Lawrenz/Stedile (UH) def. Anna Pavelkova/Kacka Pavelkova (TEX) 10-21, 22-20, 15-9
- Emma Grace Robertson/Savannah Thomas def. Buschmann/Thelle (UH) 21-16, 21-12
- Heintzelman/Miller (UH) def. Ella Keeven/Lily Davis (TEX) 22-20, 19-21, 15-10
- Macey Butler/Noa Sonnevile (TEX) def. Serrano/Cornman (UH) 25-23, 21-17
The results of the UCLA match were:
- Sally Perez/Maggie Boyd (UCLA) def. Burton/Lorenzo (UH) 21-14, 21-8
- Lawrenz/Stedile (UH) def. Alexa Fernandez/Cassie Dodd (UCLA), 21-10, 21-9
- Buschmann/Thelle (UH) def. Kaley Matthews/Ensley Alden (UCLA) 18-21, 21-17, 15-10
- Ava Williamson/Harper Cooper (UCLA) def. Heintzelman/Miller (UH), 21-15, 21-14
- Serrano/Cornman (UH) def. LaBreche/Fleming (UCLA) 21-16, 15-21, 15-13
The OUTRIGGER Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic continues , with Hawai’i facing No. 4 USC at 9:45 a.m. And No. 2 Stanford at 12:15 p.m. The Rainbow Wahine will look to build on this impressive start and continue to make a statement in the early stages of the 2026 season.
