(Photo of Vulcan huddle by Joe Poellot/Story by Russ Blunck)

HILO, Hawai`i--The top blocking team in the Pacific West Conference used their greatest asset to slip past host Hawai`i Hilo in five sets on Saturday morning at Vulcan Gymnasium.

The Cougars scored four of their final points of the match off the block to take a 24-26, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 15-10 victory over the Vulcans. The defending conference champions had 25 total blocks on the night to snap a four-match Hawai`i losing streak and move to 12-5 in the PacWest, 17-8 overall.

It was cruel blow to the Vulcans, who played great at the net themselves (16 total blocks) in a defensive battle. They are now also 12-5 in PacWest play and 15-6 overall. Both the Cougars and Vulcans are now two games behind first-place Chaminade in the loss column with just three matches to play.

The two teams will play again tonight at 6 pm in a rare in-season conference doubleheader.

Anna Jorgenson had a big morning for the Cougars, who began the week in first place in the PacWest and are now tied for fourth with the Vulcans. Jorgenson had 22 kills, 20 digs and two service aces. Bailey Hennington had 30 digs in the back row for APU, and Katarina Radisic added 14 kills and 24 digs. 

Bria Beale had 23 kills and 16 digs to lead UHH. Samara Cruz had 13 kills, two service aces and 25 digs. Sydney Gott was in double figures with 12 kills, three solo blocks and six block assists. In the two hour and 21 minute match Tani Hoke had 30 digs, Madelyn Blandford had 18 digs and setter Kendall Kott had 56 assists and 14 digs.  

In a telling stat that partially describes the match, the Vulcans had 111 digs and APU had 105.  It was a wild match, with 35 ties and 13 lead changes. 

The Vulcans rallied to win the first set, 26-24. APU led the entire set until Gott's kill gave UHH a 18-17 lead. Nine times, APU held a one-point lead in the match but the Vulcans battled back behind Cruz's seven first set kills. Still, UHH had four set points before they were finally able to take the set.

Astoundingly, neither team led by more than two points in the second set. After a long rally, APU evened the match with the 26-24 win . In the third set, the Vulcans scored eight straight points to rally from a four-point deficit, four of them off the block. A Beale ace sealed the set, giving the Vulcans a 2-1 set lead.

In the fourth set, the Cougars led the entire game, but by no more than four points. UHH was within two points (24-22) after a Beale kill, but APU held on for the 25-23 win. In the clinching fifth set, the Cougars broke a 4-4 tie and wouldn't trail the rest of the way. Four of their final five points came at the net, and the other came off a swing from Jorgenson. 

The Vulcans and Cougars play again tonight at 6 pm, and UH HIlo will close out the regular season next weekend by hosting Chaminade on Friday and Hawaii Pacific on Saturday on Senior Night. 

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