HONOLULU—Two down, two to go.
The Hawai`i Hilo Vulcans picked up win number two of the season and victory number two of the Hawai`i Challenge on Friday night, defeating Minot State in straight sets, 25-20, 25-21, 25-14.
The Vulcans, under first-year leader
Chris Leonard, moved to 2-0 while the Beavers of Minot State dropped to 0-2. The Vulcans topped Chico State earlier in the day in a dramatic five-setter, rallying back from a 11-9 deficit in the fifth.
"I am very pleased after day one," Leonard said. "We played two different matches against two very different teams and made the adjustments we needed to in both. Against Chico, we looked like we were in mid-season form in the first two sets, and like it was our first match in the next two. Tonight (against Minot State), we served and passed well all the way through."
For the second match in a row,
Bria Beale and
Amber Tai took most of the swings from their outside hitter posts. Beale finished with 11 kills, 14 digs and three service aces, while Tai chipped in eight kills.
Kaila Lizama led with 16 digs and she also had three service aces.
The teams played even through the halfway point of the first set, with the Beavers leading 16-15. The Vulcans then scored six straight points to pull away to a final of 25-20. Beale and Tai both had five kills in the set.
In the second set, the Vulcans roared out to a 7-1 lead and never trailed—although the Beavers clawed back to within two points at 20-18. UH Hilo then scored four of the next five points to salt the set away (25-21).
In the third, the Vulcans broke a 6-6 tie by scoring seven of the next eight counters, and cruised from there. They hit .333 in the set, and converted .240 in the match.
Shelby Spuller had 12 kills to lead the Beavers, who play in the volleyball-rich Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
"Minot State was a tough, scrappy team," Leonard said. "We tried to keep the pressure on them. We were steady and balanced, and touched a lot of balls at the net. I am very pleased regarding our first two efforts."
The Vulcans will return to the court early on Saturday, taking on Sonoma State at 10 am at Chaminade. They will wrap up tournament play at 5:30 p.m against West Virginia State at Hawaii Pacific.
