Ninth-ranked Hawai'i let San Jose State hang around for about 15 points tonight before blowing by the Spartans, 25-12, 25-22, 26-24, in a Western Athletic Conference volleyball match.

The win, watched by 4,388 at Stan Sheriff Center, pulled the Rainbow Wahine (16-3, 9-1 WAC) a half-match ahead of New Mexico State in the battle for first place. The Aggies play at Louisiana Tech tonight.

San Jose State (9-13, 4-6) was right with Hawai'i until the fifth tie of the first set. Suddenly, the 'Bows began a blitz, taking control with Dani Mafua serving and seemingly everybody hitting and digging. Hawai'i scored eight straight to pull ahead 14-7 and SJSU never recovered.

The Rainbows hit .467 for the set, with just three errors. Nickie Thomas (.750) and Jamie Houston (.600) hit for a huge percentage and Houston (7 kills, 7 digs) closed on her third double-double early.

Despite some ugly errors, she had it— 12 kills, 10 digs — by the end of the second set. Halfway through, the Rainbow Wahine had twice as many hitting errors as the opening set, but still led 15-12. The Spartans got within 23-21, but missed a serve and went down to Kanani Herring's fifth kill of the set.

Kelly Crow, who leads SJSU in kills, got her first two in the second set but was still hitting negative .100 going into the final set. Moanalua High School graduate Brianna Amian led the Spartans with four kills at that point, but was hitting zero.

She buried her first three swings in the final, very sloppy, set and helped the Spartans chase down Hawai'i at 18, 22, 23 and 24-all. The 'Bows, trying to integrate three reserves into the lineup, finally closed it out when Stephanie Brandt's dig set up Herring's 12th kill.

Houston finished with a match-high 18 kills — with eight errors. Amian's eight kills were twice as many as any other Spartan. Kamehameha graduate Kristal Tsukano, SJSU's libero, led her team with 11 digs.