(photo of setter Kendall Kott courtesy of Rick Ogata)

HILO, Hawai`i--The fourth and final match during a two-day slugfest wasn't the prettiest showing of the PacWest #2 volleyball tournament for the Vulcans, but when it capped four wins in two days, UH Hilo will take it.

The Vulcans improved to 4-0 in the tournament and 7-1 on the season with a 20-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-18 win over Chaminade on Saturday night at Vulcan Gymnasium. The Silverswords fell to 3-5 on the season.

Both teams were exhausted and the match wasn't always the cleanest, but it was spirited for sure between two long time rivals.

Chaminade led for most of the first set and scored the final three points to win the game, 25-20. The Vulcans had 11 attack errors in the set and Broooklen Pe`a had six kills for the Silverswords.

It was UH Hilo that led for the entire second set before winning (25-15) and they cruised for most of the third set as well (25-18). 

The fourth set was another story. Chaminade blitzed out to 7-2 and 9-3 leads before the Vulcans began inching back. UHH would take a 15-12 margin after two kills by Bria Beale and one by Ashton Jessee, but CUH would rally back to tie it at 16-16.

The Vulcans followed with five straight points, which included two kills by Taira Kaawaloa, one by Alexandria Parisian, a team block and an ace by Jessee.

They wouldn't trail again and closed out the match on kills by Beale and Kaawaloa (25-18). 

Pe`a finished with 16 kills to lead the visitors. Rachel Reedy had 13 and Claire Zanon had 27 digs.

The Vulcans were balanced with 14 kills and 13 digs from Beale and14 kills and 11 digs from Kaawaloa. Parisian had nine kills, four aces and 12 digs, Tani Hoke had a robust 27 digs and Kendall Kott had 41 assists and 11 digs.

The Vulcans will now get a week off before the next round of Hawaii Pod round robin (PacWest Spring #3), set for April 17-18 at Chaminade.



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