Box Score CARSON, Calif.--A valiant third set comeback effort came up just short, closing the door on Hawai'i Hilo's hopes as host Cal State Dominguez Hills took a 25-23, 25-20, 25-23 win over the Vulcans at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase at the Torodome on Thursday.

The Toros moved to 2-3 on the season, while the Vulcans fell to 0-2. UHH will have a pair of chances to get into the win column on Friday, taking on Montana State Billings at noon (9 am Hawaii) and Seattle Pacific at 7:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. Hawaiian time).

Sierra Green and Katrina Johnson led the Vuls with eight kills apiece. Marley Strand-Nicolaisen led the defense with 15 digs and Mina Grant added 14.

Johnson, a 6-2 sophomore, had most of her kills in the first set as the Vulcans built leads of 15-10 and 20-15. But the Toros rallied to tie the set at 22-22, and then slipped by for the win after a kill by Bridget Heins and a UHH attack error. (25-23).

CSUDH led from start to finish in set two, flying out of the gates to a 10-4 lead. The Vulcans closed to 17-15, but the Toros answered with a three-point run and then cruised to the game win (25-20).

It looked to be more of the same for the hosts in the third set when they flew out to leads of 4-0 and 10-5, but UHH would battle back. They closed to within one point twice at 15-14 and 18-17, both times on kills by 6-1 freshman Kayla Balezentis. The Vulcans took their first lead at 19-18 on another kill by Balezentis, and then rode the arm of Green as the junior outside hitter scored Hilo's last four points, including a put down that tied the set at 23-23.

But CSUDH's Heins answered to make it 24-23 for the southern California team, and an attack error by the Vulcans ended the match (25-23).

Claire Autry led the Toros with 10 kills, while Cathryn Lopez led the defense with 13 digs.

UHH hit just .109 on the evening, but had only one less dig than their hosts (58-57) and one less kill (38-37).

(Full stats will be available soon)