Box Score This one might sting for a little while.

In their 2016 season opener, the Hawai'I Hilo Vulcan volleyball team rushed out to a 2-0 lead over visiting Cal Poly Pomona in front of a near-capacity crowd of 863 in at the Vulcan Gymnasium.

But the visiting Broncos dampened the festivities by rallying to complete an improbable comeback, stealing an 18-25, 11-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-11 win in a NCAA Division II non-conference match-up. For the Vulcans, it was a tough way to begin the season. For Cal Poly Pomona, it means they came away with a split of their matches in Hawaii and will head back to Los Angeles with a 2-2 mark.

Marley Strand-Nicolaisen led the hosts with 17 kills, while Siera Green was right behind her with 16. The Broncos had three players with double-figure kill numbers, led by Deanna Blaine's 17. Andrea Bosnic added 15 and Alexandra Gresham put down 11.

In front of a packed house in an electric atmosphere, UHH won a wild first set and was dominant in taking the second. Stand-Nicolaisen had 11 of her kills in those sets as the Vulcans hit a scorching .346 and .480 respectively.

Still the first set was anything but easy. There were 11 ties and the Vulcans actually trailed 18-17 before reeling off eight consecutive points behind the serve of Mariya Heidenrich to win, 25-18.

In set two, the Vulcans continued to roll, bolting out to a 10-3 margin and later scored seven straight to lead 24-10 before settling for the 25-11 ending. The Vulcans never trailed in the second set.

But the Broncos began to turn the tables in the third. They jumped out to a 6-1 margin and the visitors would never trail after that, keeping the Vulcans at arms' length in the 25-21 win. Still, Hawaii Hilo looked to regain control in the fourth set, taking a 14-5 lead to the halfway point. They still led at 16-11, but the Broncos scored five straight to tie it (16-16) and then outscored UHH 14-4 from there (25-20) to even the match at two sets apiece.

Cal Poly Pomona never trailed in the fifth set. They led at 5-2 and 9-5, although the Vulcans charged back to within a point at 10-9 and 11-10. But a Bronco block and kills by Blaine, Bosnic and Blaine again put the nail in the coffin. Blaine had four kills in the fifth set.

After a volcanic start, hitting .412 in the first two sets, UHH cooled to .248 for the match. Kyndra Trevino-Scott was just outside double figures in kills with nine and she had a .400 attack percentage. Sienna Davis had 44 assists, nine digs and an ace, while Mina Grant led the defense with 14 digs. In her collegiate debut, freshman Armani Moultrie had four block assists and a solo block.

The Broncos' Alina Smith had 44 assists and Samantha Figueroa paced her team with 17 digs.

While the loss may sting, the Vulcans won't have to wait too long to try and erase the memory. They fly to southern California on Wednesday to play four matches in three days (Thursday-Saturday) at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills. The will open play against the host Toros on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Pacific time.