OAKLAND, Calif.--The Holy Names Hawks leveled a few monkeys off their collective backs during a stunning 25-18, 25-16, 25-13 win over Hawai`i Hilo on Friday night at Tobin Gymnasium.
The host Hawks snapped a 17-match losing streak, picked up their first Pacific West Conference win of the season and gained revenge on the Vulcans, who had rolled them in three quick sets last month in Hilo.
With the upset, Holy Names moved to 1-16 in the PacWest and to 2-23 overall. The Vulcans saw their chance at a winning season slide away, falling to 9-13 on the year and to 7-10 in league action.
This one wasn't close and took just 1:29 to complete.
Holy Names ran out to a 6-1 lead in the first set and UHH never got closer than four points. The Hawks led by as many as 10 points before winning 25-18. In the second set, the Vuls had their ONLY brief lead of the night (1-0), but HNU scored eight of the next ten points and finished by scoring eight of the final 11 (25-16). The hosts hit .361 in the set.Â
In the third set, HNU blitzed out to a 13-3 lead and never looked back. They hit .344 in the clinching game.
Hawaii Hilo, who had defeated the Hawks at Vulcan Gym back on October 29 (25-18, 25-10, 25-21), was led by
Marley Strand-Nicolaisen who had nine kills, 15 digs and two blocks.
Nohealani Ornellas added 10 digs. UHH hit just .042 on the evening.
Madison Stark led the home team with 11 kills.
The Vulcans will have a chance to get back on the winning track tomorrow, taking on Academy of Art on Saturday at 7 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be played in Oakland at Mills College.
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