ST. GEORGE, Utah.—It was a valiant effort for the Vulcans that came up just a few points short.
Pacific West Conference leader Dixie State scored the final three points of the fourth set to break a 22-22 tie and claim a 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22 league victory over Hawai`i Hilo on Monday evening at the DSU Student Activities Center.
The outcome moved Dixie State's record to 7-4 on the season and to 4-0 in the PacWest. It was the first conference loss for the Vulcans, who fell to 4-4 overall and to 2-1 in PWC action.
UHH's
Marley Strand-Nicolaisen led all players with 20 kills and she also had 12 digs.
Siera Green and
Katrina Johnson were also in double figures with 10 kills each.
The host Trailblazers led from start to finish in the first set (25-19), and continued that refrain until almost the halfway point of set number two. The Vulcans picked up its first lead at 12-11 in the second set and then held that margin for good after back-to-back kills by Green made it 16-13. UHH would even the match with the 25-21 set victory.
The rubber set was a barn burner. Three points was the largest lead held by either team, and the match was tied 17-17, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21 and 22-22 before the Trailblazers scored the final three points to win 25-22.
The fourth set was also tied at 17-17 before the Vulcans made one last push. They scored three straight points on a Strand-Nicolaisen kill, a Green put-away and a
Sienna Davis ace to make it 20-17. Dixie State would battle back, scoring the next four points (21-22), before a Johnson kill would even things at 22-22. But two UHH errors and a Lindsay Garrett ace brought an end to the upset bid, maintaining for the Trailblazers their share of the PacWest lead with California Baptist.
Davis finished with 42 assists and two service aces, while
Mina Grant led the defense with 16 digs. Delayne Daniel led DSU with 16 kills, while Sidney Brandon led all players with 26 digs.
Dixie State was picked to finish second in the PacWest pre-season coaches poll.
The Vulcans will continue a tough four-match road trip, traveling to Riverside to take on co- conference leader California Baptist on Wednesday evening. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m. Pacific, 4 p.m. Hawaiian.
