HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball fell to Concordia in five sets (25-19, 16-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9) on Wednesday evening in Pacific West Conference play at Vulcan Gymnasium.
Hawai'i Hilo led the fifth set, 4-3, but Concordia managed to control the match the rest of the way and put together six consecutive points — two of them on aces — and did not trail again.
Chase Koepke (.522), Alohi Garcia and Sajal Glunz each recorded 14 kills for Hawai'i Hilo, with Garcia adding 16 digs for the 14th double-double of the season. 'Anolani Santos recorded 48 assists. Elly Stokely (16), Maiah Kalima (15) and LC Nakagawa (14) joined Garcia in double figures in digs.
Five teams remain in the race for the four spots at the PacWest Championships postseason tournament. Biola and Point Loma can secure a spot on Thursday (Oct. 29) with wins, and Concordia can do the same on Friday. Hawai'i Hilo, fourth in the standings, clinches with two wins in its last three matches.
GAME NOTES
- Set 1: CUI scored seven straight points after UHH took a 6-5 lead and led the rest of the way, with five of its 25 points coming on blocks. UHH scored seven of nine points after trailing 21-12 to close within 23-19.
- Set 2: CUI scored four straight points to tie it at 8-8, but UHH answered with a 5-0 run and led the rest of the way. UHH recorded three of its five match aces in the set.
- Set 3: The score was tied at every number from 12 through 18 and again at 22 and 23. UHH trailed, 22-19, before scoring four straight points to lead, 23-22, then closed on a 2-0 run after CUI tied it at 23. UHH recorded 19 kills, including six each from Garcia and Glunz.
- Set 4: UHH trailed 16-9 before a 4-0 run (three Koepke kills and a Stokely ace) cut the deficit to three. The score was tied at 22 before CUI scored three of the final four points.
- Set 5: UHH led 4-3 before CUI scored six straight points to go up 9-4.
- Total Blocks: Hawai'i Hilo 3, Concordia 13
- Total Attack Errors: Hawai'i Hilo 33, Concordia 23
- Koepke's .522 attack percentage ranks No. 4 in a PacWest 5-Set Match.
- Santos' 48 assists rank No. T4 in a PacWest 5-Set Match.
- Previous Matchup (Sept. 16, 2026): L 3-0 (16-25, 17-25, 13-25) in Irvine, California
- Hawai'i Hilo: 19-7 Overall (11-4 PacWest)
- Nickname: Vulcans
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. 4
- AVCA-Taraflex Top 25 Poll (Oct. 26): Receiving Votes
- NPI Rank (Oct. 25): No. 47 (No. 10 West Region)
- Concordia: 19-5 Overall (12-3 PacWest)
- Nickname: Golden Eagles
- Irvine, California
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 5
- Current Conference Standing: No. T2
- NPI Rank (Oct. 25): No. 38 (No. 8 West Region)
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Oct. 31 (6 PM) vs No. 18 Point Loma (Vulcan Gymnasium)
- Friday, Nov. 6 (6 PM) at Chaminade (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
- Saturday, Nov. 7 (3 PM) at HPU (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
AMONG THE BEST
Hawai'i Hilo was listed among others receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association-Taraflex Division II Top 25 Poll released on Oct. 26, totaling four points.
PACWEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The top four teams in the conference standings will qualify for the 2026 PacWest Championships, hosted by Vanguard on Nov. 13-14 in Costa Mesa, California.
- Clinched (0/4): None
- In Contention (5): Biola (12-3), Concordia (12-3), Hawai'i Hilo (11-4), Point Loma (12-2), Westmont (9-6)
- Eliminated (5): Chaminade (6-8), Dominican (1-14), HPU (3-12), Jessup (3-12), Vanguard (5-10)
The Vulcans made an appearance in last year's PacWest Championships semifinal round. Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 3 earlier in this year's conference preseason coaches poll.
NCAA POWER INDEX (NPI)
NCAA Division II has implemented the NCAA Power Index (NPI) as the official, objective metric for determining NCAA Championships postseason tournament berths. Outside of conference champions receiving Automatic Bids (AQs), all remaining at-large spots are awarded based on final NPI rankings, which evaluate winning percentage, strength of schedule and match location.
In the most recent ratings, through games of Oct. 25, Hawai'i Hilo came in at No. 47 nationally and No. 10 in the West Region. NCAA Selection Show will be Nov. 15 with the opening rounds of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships set for Nov. 19-22. Five at-large berths will be awarded alongside the AQs for the three champions from the conferences comprising the West Region — PacWest, California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
