(Photo by Texas Powers)

HONOLULU, Hawai`i--The Hawai`i Hilo volleyball team had waited nearly 16 months between their 2019 NCAA tournament loss to Western Washington and their 2021 return to the court. To say the least, they got their monies worth on Saturday, March 20 on Oahu.

The Vulcans outslugged Chaminade in five sets and then took down host Hawaii Pacific in four to begin their spring season at 2-0. They will play the Silverswords and Sharks again on Sunday, the first of many match-ups in the schedule this March and April between the evenly-matched Hawaii teams. Earlier in the day, Hawaii Pacific topped Chaminade in five sets.

UHH and CUH played a two hour and 35 minute match in the afternoon, with the Vulcans going extra time twice during the 25-18, 29-27, 19-25, 25-27, 15-8 victory. In the late match, the Vulcans dropped the first set to the sharks before ralling back for the 24-26, 25-23, 25-15, 25-19 victory.

The opener was a slugfest, especially in the marathon second and fourth sets. There were 19 ties in the second set, eventually won by the Vulcans (29-27) and there were ten deadlocks in the fourth, won by Chaminade (27-25).

In that second set, the Vulcans fought off three set points behind the swings of the Alexandria Parisian and the final put away by setter Kendall Kott. In the fourth, it swung the opposite way with the Silverswords fighting back from a 24-22 deficit to win 27-25. But the fifth set was all Vulcans. They roared out to 7-2 and 11-3 leads, survived five straight points by CUH and then closed out the game and match with the last four points.

Bria Beale had 17 kills, 15 digs and two service aces to pace a balanced UHH attack. Parisian added 15 kills and 15 digs and Ashton Jessee had 12 kills and seven block assists. Taira Kaawaloa had double-double numbers as well (11 kills, 17 digs), Tani Hoke had 26 digs and Kott finished with 47 assists. 

In the 3-1 win over the Sharks, Beale was again in midseason form with 18 kills, 20 digs and three aces. 5-8 freshman outside hitter Samara Cruz (Escondido, Calif.) had 15 kills, Kott had 42 assists, Hoke 25 digs and Parisian added 11 kills.

The Vulcans had 12 aces in the match and had 77 digs to HPU's 58.

The Vulcans will hit the court early on Sunday at the Shark Tank, taking on Chaminade at 10 am and Hawaii Pacific at 2:30 pm.

 
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