SAN FRANCISCO, California – After a jam-packed short week in Northern California, the Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball team closed out with a 3-1 win over Academy of Art Saturday afternoon in Pacific West Conference action at the Kezar Pavilion. Set scores were 25-21, 25-16, 23-25 and 25-19.
The Vulcans started hot, taking six of the first seven points in the opening set. But the Urban Knights battled back from a seven-point deficit to take seven of the next eight points to make it just a one-point score at 19-18. The score was knotted at 21 before Hawai'i Hilo took the final four points to overcome six ART U blocks to take Set 1.
Set 2 started flipped as Academy of Art managed to begin with a 4-0 lead, but the Vulcans fought back to tie the game through a 9-9 score before going on two separate scoring streaks of five consecutive points to ride out to victory.
The third set was another back-and-forth affair with the Vulcans making a strong push late to tie the score at 23, but the Urban Knights took the set with the final two points.
Hawai'i Hilo sealed up the victory with six of the last eight points — half of them kills by Taylor Tullo — in another close battle in the final set.
STATS SHEET
- Samara Cruz racked up a double-double with 15 kills (.132) and a team-leading 19 digs to go along with three assists, two aces and three blocks.
- Taylor Tullo led the Vulcans with 17 kills while Raelee Samio matched a season high of 11 (.476) to go along with three blocks and four digs.
- Kamryn Childs put down five aces as part of a season-high 13 total team attack.
- The Vulcans finished with a 65-44 advantage in digs while the Sharks narrowly held the edge in blocks, 10-6.5.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 7-8 overall (4-3 PacWest) while Academy of Art moved to 2-14 (1-8 PacWest).
The Vulcans will return home for four games starting Oct. 14 against two-time defending champion Chaminade.
ONLINE TICKETS
Single-game and season tickets are now available to be purchased online through Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics' recently launched online ticket platform in partnership with AudienceView Campus.
The 2023 slate will feature 10 total home matches at the Vulcan Gymnasium with a package price of $75 for adults and $40 for seniors (ages 65-plus) and middle/high school students.
Both can be accessed at HiloAthletics.com/tickets.
