HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball fell to Fresno Pacific in four sets (28-30, 25-20, 22-25, 19-25) in front of a packed Vulcan Gym on Thursday evening for the Vulcans' home opener.
The Sunbirds managed to post 15 total blocks, the most by an opposing team since Point Loma put up 21 back in Oct. 2022. FPU was led by Addison McKarcher (seven block assists), Geneva Elliott (six block assists, one solo), Mikayla Weiss (six block assists) and Cambria Waites (six block assists).
Hawai'i Hilo's Chase Koepke also put up six block assists along with 11 kills (.435). Malu Garcia led with 15 kills and Isabella Hadaller had 11. LC Nakagawa racked up a season-high 23 digs while Emerson Reinke finished with 47 assists.
While season competition has reached the point of playing other schools in the Pacific West Conference Conference, this year's schedule features just 12 countable matches toward the league standings — of which Thursday's matchup with FPU did not count for.
OTHER NOTES
- The Vulcans came on late in the opening set to take 10 of 12 points to battle back from a seven-point deficit to a tied score at 19-all. The pendulum swung back and forth between the two teams as Hawai'i Hilo served on three match-point opportunities, but FPU managed to take the final three points in a row to come away with the 30-28 win.
- Emerson Reinke Program All-Time Career Rank: No. 3 Assists – 2,791 (Sienna Davis '95 – 2,833; Kendall Kott '22 – 2,835)
- Hawai'i Hilo: 7-5 Overall (0-0 PacWest)
- Fresno Pacific: 7-0 Overall (0-0 PacWest)
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Sept. 20 (7 PM) vs Dominican (Vulcan Gym)
- Wednesday, Sept. 24 (3 PM / 6 PM PT) vs Azusa Pacific (Azusa, CA)
- Friday, Sept. 26 (2 PM / 5 PM PT) vs Biola (La Mirada, CA)
- Saturday, Sept. 27 (2 PM / 5 PM PT) vs Concordia (Irvine, CA)
- Monday, Sept. 29 (3 PM / 6 PM PT) vs Point Loma (San Diego, CA)
PACWEST PRESEASON POLL
Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 4 in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll released earlier this week. The Vulcans finished 2024 in a four-way tie for fourth place. 2025 will feature the inaugural four-team PacWest Conference Championships postseason tournament hosted by Chaminade on O'ahu (Nov. 20-21).
PURCHASE TICKETS
Season and individual tickets for the Vulcans' nine home matches this fall are available for purchase at HiloAthletics.com/tickets. New pricing tiers have been introduced for preferred and general seating. In 2024, Hawai'i Hilo ranked No. 3 in all of Division II for venue percent capacity attendance at the on-campus Vulcan Gym.
BUY LIVESTREAM PACKAGE
Video livestreaming will be available for all home events this season through the PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/livestream. Single-game passes are offered at $15 with a season-package price of $101.25.
INTER-ISLAND SHOWDOWN
Following the Vulcans' Oct. 4 match against Chaminade at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Men's Volleyball team will hold an intrasquad scrimmage. The team will also hold a photo session opportunity earlier in the day at Big Island Candies.
