FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Vulcans knew today was going to be a grind, and they sure got their money's worth with back-to-back five-set thrillers.
The Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball team twice battled back from 2-0 deficits to force a Set No. 5 but ultimately fell narrowly to Alaska and No. 14 Alaska Anchorage Saturday afternoon to close out the season-opening Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge in the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center.
The Vulcans fell to the Nanooks by set scores of 18-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-19 and 14-16 before falling to the Seawolves by scores of 22-25, 25-27, 25-23, 25-17 and 10-15.
Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 2-2 record while both Alaska and Alaska Anchorage got their first wins of the season to improve to 1-2 and 1-3, respectively.
Overall, Hawai'i Hilo (2-2) and Chaminade (4-0) went 6-2 in the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge.
GAME 1: HAWAI'I HILO 2, ALASKA 3
- Vulcans rattled off six-straight points early on in Set 1, but the Nanooks battled back through six ties and finished out seven of the last eight points for the 25-18 win.
- Set 2 again saw the 'Nooks finishing strong as they scored the final six points for the 25-20 win.
- The match looked like it was on its way to being a sweep after Alaska held an 11-3 lead in the third set, but the Vulcans heated up and took nine out of 10 points midway through the frame to squeeze out a 25-21 win.
- After a 10-10 tie, Hawai'i Hilo steadily pulled away to build as large as a six-point lead on the way to taking a 25-19 set victory to force Set 5.
- Much like the first two sets, Alaska managed to come on strong late as it battled back from an 11-13 deficit by taking five of the last six points for a 16-14 win.
- The Vulcans were out-blocked 13.0 to 6.0 but held an 82-71 advantage in digs.
- Taylor Tullo posted 18 kills with 15 digs. Eight of her kills came in the fourth set.
- Isabella Hadaller tallied 22 kills.
- Emerson Reinke totaled 49 assists to go along with 18 digs.
- Kamryn Childs hit .467 on eight kills.
- Ainsley Smith totaled 53 assists for the Nanooks while Rilee White added seven kills, five aces and 18 digs. Karli Nelson led with 19 kills (.241).
GAME 2: HAWAI'I HILO 2, NO. 14 ALASKA ANCHORAGE 3
- Both Sets 1 and 2 were battles as both teams played through 20 tied scores with the Seawolves pulling away late to take the wins. In the second set, Hawai'i Hilo took a 25-24 lead but Alaska Anchorage managed to close out the win by taking the final three points.
- The Vulcans heated up once again and came out strong early in the third and fourth sets to take comfortable leads, but the Seawolves wouldn't go away quietly as Hawai'i Hilo ultimately evened the match after 25-23 and 25-17 set wins.
- UAA maintained a steady lead in the fifth and final set to close out the 15-10 win.
- Sophomore Emerson Reinke posted a new career high of 57 assists to go along with 17 digs.
- Taylor Tullo tallied 25 kills (.231) while Isabella Hadaller added 18 (.261) followed by Kamryn Childs' 14 (.355).
- The Seawolves finished with an 11.0-5.0 advantage in blocks.
- The Vulcans held the edge in Kills (68-55) and digs (91-84).
UPDATE (8/29/23)
Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge All-Tournament Team
Alaska
Grace Steurer
Karli Nielson
Alaska Anchorage
Nicole Blue
Makana Eleneki
Chaminade
Greta Corti
Leilani Ama
Hawai'i Hilo
Isabella Hadaller
Taylor Tullo
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo will return home and island-hop to O'ahu next weekend for the two-day Hawai'i Challenge hosted by HPU and Chaminade. Vulcans will play American International College and Cal Poly Pomona on Sept. 1 followed by West Virginia State University and Sonoma State on Sept 2.
WVSU is head coached in her first season by former Hawai'i Hilo two-sport standout Hillary Hurley.
The Vulcans will then have two weeks off before hosting their home opener Sept. 16 against HPU to start the Pacifc West Conference season.
