ST. GEORGE, Utah--A third set Hawai`i Hilo rally came up short when host Dixie State bounced back to take down the Vulcans in a Pacific West Conference volleyball match at Burns Arena, 25-16, 25-9, 25-23.

It was the second win in a row for the Trailblazers, who improved to 11-13 on the season and to 9-7 in conference play. The injury-riddled Vulcans dropped to 8-14 overall and to 5-10 in the PacWest. It was UH Hilo's sixth straight loss, after sitting at 5-4 in conference play before medical issues took their toll.

In tonight's match in southwest Utah, the Vulcans welcomed back senior outside hitter Siera Green, the teams' leading kill maker on the season with 3.80 per set. Green had missed UHH's last five matches. The Ogden, Utah native led the Vulcans with six kills and she also had 16 digs.

The Vulcans came out of the gates even with the Trailblazers, down just a point in the first set at 15-14. But Dixie State, playing in their final year in the PacWest (they will move to the RMAC next year), flipped the momentum by scoring 10 of the next 12 points to take the set, 25-16. That fire would continue into the second set, where the Trailblazers ran off 11 straight points to break a 5-5 tie to cruise to the win, 25-9.

The visitors made a valiant third set effort to try and climb into the match. After trailing 9-4, the Vulcans roared back and tied the set at 16-16 on an ace by Sha Rae Niu. UHH would take the lead at 19-18 on a kill by Green and push that margin to 21-18 on another Green putaway. The Vulcans still led at 23-21, two points away from taking the set, but Dixie won the next four points, punctuated by Kayla Chapman's kill to finish the night at 25-23. 

Chapman led all players with nine kills (hitting .364) and eight block assists. Sid Brandon had 26 digs for the hosts.

Mina Grant had 17 digs to lead the Vulcans, who hit just .016 on the night and were beaten at the net, 14-3. 

The Vulcans continue their final road trip of the year with a Wednesday match in San Diego at Point Loma. Start time will be 7 pm Pacific (5 in Hawai`i).