LA MIRADA, California – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball dropped a five-set nail-biter to Biola, 3-2 (15-25, 25-19, 25-19, 16-25, 15-11), Saturday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at Chase Gymnasium.
Vulcans held a four-point advantage and were four points away from snagging victory in the final set, but Biola managed to score eight consecutive points to take the five-set win.
The Eagles were able to extend their win streak to eight contests and entered Saturday's match on a 21-set sweep streak but it was quickly ended in the opening frame as the Vulcans jumped ahead with a 25-15 Set 1 win.
Alohi Garcia led Hawai'i Hilo with 18 kills and added 15 digs for a double-double. Logan Blutreich posted a career-high seven total blocks to go along with nine kills. Sajal Glunz added 13 kills and had five total blocks – also a career high.
GAME NOTES
- Set 1: Hawai'i Hilo broke away from an early 6-5 lead by clumping together three four-point swings over the next 15 points for an 18-8 advantage on the way to the opening set win. Vulcans held a 4-1 block advantage.
- Set 2: Vulcans trailed late by just a point at 19-18, but Biola took six of the next seven points to close out the set, 25-19. Eagles held a 5-2 block advantage.
- Set 3: Tied five times early, but Biola broke away with six of the next seven points to take an 11-6 lead and controlled the rest of the way – hitting .371 for the frame.
- Set 4: Trailing by one at a 14-13 deficit, Hawai'i Hilo rallied for 12 of the last 14 points, including the final six, to force a deciding set – six different Vulcans recorded a kill in the stretch, with Kennedy Stevens, who had just subbed into the match, closing it out on the set-clinching kill after factoring into a block earlier in the run. Biola was held to .000 as a team.
- Set 5: Hawai'i Hilo led 11-7 before four attack errors in the closing stretch helped Biola close out the match – six total miscues (attack and service combined) for the Vulcans in the set.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 10-5 Overall (2-2 PacWest)
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. 5
- Biola: 9-2 Overall (4-0 PacWest)
- La Mirada, California
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 4
- Current Conference Standing: No. T1
- The two teams will meet again Oct. 6 in Hilo at the Vulcan Gymnasium.
UP NEXT
- Monday, Sept. 21 (3 PM HT / 6 PM PT) at No. 16 Point Loma (San Diego, California)
- Sunday, Sept. 27 (2 PM) vs HPU (Hilo, Hawai'i) – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
- UH Manoa Men's Volleyball Intrasquad Showcase to follow – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
- Thursday, Oct. 1 (6 PM) vs Dominican (Hilo, Hawai'i) – Vulcan Gymnasium
NATIONAL CHAMPS RETURNING TO HILO
The reigning NCAA Men's Volleyball National Champion UH Manoa Rainbow Warriors are returning to Hilo for another interisland intrasquad showcase set for Sunday, Sept. 27 following the Vulcans match with HPU at 2 p.m. inside the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Tickets available at HiloAthletics.com/TIX. More information available at HiloAthletics.com/MVB.
The Vulcan Booster Club is also hosting "A Night of Champions" dinner on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel with all proceeds benefiting Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program will include remarks from both Vulcans and Rainbow Warriors coaches and athletes. Tickets available at HiloAthletics.com/NOC.
A photo meet and greet will be held Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Big Island Candies Hilo store from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
AMONG THE BEST
Hawai'i Hilo was marked as having received votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association-Taraflex Division II Top 25 Poll released on Sept. 14. The Vulcans totaled seven points and were listed on at least two of the voters' ballots.
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 $80).
