HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball blanked Biola, 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-18), to claim its fourth sweep in a row on Tuesday evening in Pacific West Conference play at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Vulcans shut the Eagles down and held the visiting team to their lowest offensive outputs of the season (.119 hitting) along with forcing 10 attack errors in the final set. Biola's Juliana Van Ommering, ranked the PacWest's second-best hitter in the conference per the numbers, was held to five total kills (.056) — a contrast from her team-leading 15 kills (.170) when the Eagles managed to claim victory in the two teams' previous match last month in La Mirada, California.
"Coming in today, we were all so excited," Vulcans redshirt-senior Logan Blutreich said. "We had our morning serve and pass, and we just talked about being positive and having a lot of energy, and we definitely carried it on to the game. We started off strong and kept it going throughout all three sets."
Alohi Garcia led Hawai'i Hilo with 16 kills and added eight digs and two solo blocks — the second of which was the match-sealing point. Blutreich followed up with 13 kills (.500) and just one attacking error. The two combined to put down 12 of the Vulcans' 13 kills in the opening set, and later accounted together for nine of 13 UHH kills in Set 3.
'Anolani Santos totaled 36 assists — tied for second-most in three-set PacWest contests this season — with two kills (.500) and three digs. The freshman entered the evening ranked No. 12 in NCAA Division II for total assists on the season.
Blutreich, a four-year transfer from University of the Pacific, also crossed the 500 career kills mark after helping the Vulcans take a 23-21 lead in Set 2.
"I'm so happy that I get to end my career here with these girls and this team," Blutreich said. "I just have found the love for volleyball again, and I think that's super awesome. I thank the coaches and all of Hilo for that."
The result moved Hawai'i Hilo into a share of third place with Point Loma in the PacWest standings. Biola is ahead at No. 2 with Concordia still unbeaten at 8-0.
GAME NOTES
- Set 1: Hawai'i Hilo took an 18-15 lead and went on a 5-0 run — two kills apiece from Garcia and Blutreich — to pull away for the 1-0 lead. Garcia racked up seven kills (.308) in the frame.
- Set 2: With the score tied at 19-all, the Vulcans pulled together with Santos, Sajal Glunz, Blutreich, Garcia and Chase Koepke each putting down kills to edge Biola for the 2-0 advantage. Hawai'i Hilo hit .325 in the set.
- Set 3: Hawai'i Hilo built a comfortable lead at 22-13 but allowed a four-point rally by the Eagles, making it just a five-point lead. Blutreich recorded a pair of kills and Garcia roofed her second solo block of the evening to complete the sweep.
- Total Digs: Hawai'i Hilo 51, Biola 41
- Total Service Aces: Hawai'i Hilo 1, Biola 4
- Total Offensive Errors: Hawai'i Hilo 17, Biola 28
- Most Recent Matchup (Sept. 19, 2026): L 2-3 (25-15, 19-25, 19-25, 25-16, 11-15)
- Hawai'i Hilo: 14-5 Overall (6-2 PacWest)
- Nickname: Vulcans
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. T3
- Biola: 12-4 Overall (7-2 PacWest)
- Nickname: Eagles
- La Mirada, California
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 4
- Current Conference Standing: No. 2
- Upcoming: Saturday will be the final home match of the season at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Every following Vulcans Women's Volleyball home event will be at the on-campus Vulcan Gymnasium.
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Oct. 10 (6 PM) vs Vanguard (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
- Think Pink Night (First 50 Attending Fans Wearing Pink Receive Prize)
- Game Day Sponsor: Aloha KIA
- Yeti Cooler Giveaway
- Monday, Oct. 12 (6 PM) vs Westmont (Vulcan Gymnasium)
- Oktober (Root) Beer (Float) Fest
- Friday, Oct. 16 (4:30 PM) vs HPU (Vulcan Gymnasium)
- Postponed from Sept. 27 (Hurricane Nolo)
- Game Day Sponsor: HPM
VULCAN CHALLENGE
Hawai'i Hilo Athletics has launched its annual Vulcan Challenge, a month-long fundraising campaign running from Sept. 21 through Oct. 23 to support scholarships, travel, training and other essential resources for the Vulcans' 12 NCAA Division II teams. To support, visit HiloAthletics.com/VC.
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. 5, totaling 11 points.
PACWEST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 3 in the 2026 PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vulcans finished the 2025 regular season tied at No. 3 in the conference standings. The four-team 2026 PacWest Championships postseason tournament will be hosted by Vanguard University on Nov. 13-14 in Costa Mesa, California.
PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS
Season and individual tickets for the Vulcans' 13 home matches at Vulcan Gymnasium are available for purchase at HiloAthletics.com/tickets. Season tickets are $150 for Preferred Seats ($100 for seniors 65+ and middle/high school students) and $100 for General Seats ($50 for seniors 65+ and middle/high school students).
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 for volleyball are offered at $15 and a season-package (12 matches) price of $120 (now $50).
