CALIFORNIA – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball opened its last in-season road trip with a split four-set victory over Vanguard (25-21, 25-19, 17-25, 25-17) followed by a four-set defeat to Westmont (25-22, 19-25, 18-25, 15-25) this past weekend.
Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 10-7 record in the PacWest (15-12 overall) at No. 5 in the season standings. Vanguard moved to 7-10 (10-11 overall) and Westmont to 8-8 (13-10 overall).
In the process, fifth-year senior Samara Cruz became the seventh player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills.
NOV. 9 vs VANGUARD (Costa Mesa, California / Freed Center)
Against the Lions, Sets 2 and 4 saw the Vulcans pull away late as Hawai'i Hilo snatched seven of the last eight points after a tied 18-18 score. In the second-set rally, Samara Cruz put down two of her four total aces on the evening as she brought her career totals to 113 to surpass Bria Beale (18-21) for sixth most all-time in the program record books.
In the fourth set, Hawai'i Hilo had just a one-point lead at 16-15 but took nine of the next 11 points to seal the match victory. Maya Imoto-Eakin put down two aces as part of a five-total outing.
Chase Koepke finished hitting at least .400 for the fourth time this season, totaling nine kills (.400) with four blocks. Kamryn Childs was tough up front with a career-high seven blocks.
NOV. 11 vs WESTMONT (Santa Barbara, California / Murchison Gym)
Hawai'i Hilo started strong to jump out to a 13-3 lead in the opening set, but Westmont managed to recover and took eight consecutive points. With the score tied at 20, Raelee Samio put down two kills and put up two blocks to lead the charge for the Set 1 win.
However, the Warriors' opening-set recovery would be a preview of the remaining match as Westmont managed to string together many long scoring runs to take the next three sets for the victory.
Cruz hit the 1,000-kill mark on the Vulcans fourth point in Set 1. Cruz is now also just nine digs away from becoming just the third Vulcan to top both 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs — joining Tanya Fuamatu (92-95) and Bria Beale (18-21). All three are also a part of just eight Hawai'i Hilo players who have eclipsed 100 service aces.
UP NEXT: Wednesday, Nov. 13 (4 PM / 6 PM PT) vs No. 13 Point Loma (San Diego, California / Golden Gymnasium)
SENIOR NIGHT: Saturday, Nov. 23 (7 PM) vs Chaminade (Hilo, Hawai'i / Vulcan Gymnasium)
SENIORS (7): Madelyn Blandford, Kamryn Childs, Samara Cruz, Chloe Culanding, Tani Hoke, Raelee Samio, Taylor Tullo
