by HILO, Hawai`i–Hawai`i Pacific outside hitter Cameryn Collie pounded 19 kills and added 12 digs to help her team snap a four-match losing streak and defeat host Hawai`i Hilo on Sunday afternoon, 25-20, 25-19, 10-25, 25-19.
The victory evened the Sharks’ record at 5-5 overall and 1-1 in the Pacific West Conference. The Vulcans, after dropping a five-set heavyweight bout with Chaminade on Saturday night, are now 0-2 in conference play and 5-5 on the year.
After the draining loss less than 24 hours ago to the Silverswords, the Vulcans were a bit flat on a warm muggy afternoon against the Sharks.
HPU pulled away from UHH in the first set, after trailing 12-10. They scored seven of the next eight points to take the set, 25-20. They overcame a short deficit in set two as well, scoring six of the final seven points to take a 2-0 lead, 25-19.
In the third set, the Vulcans looked like the squad that almost knocked off the No. 2 team in the country last weekend (Western Washington). They scored nine straight points to lead 13-4, and went on to hit .476 in the set. They had a 24-9 lead before closing out at 25-10.
The fourth set went back and forth. HPU had a 12-9 lead, but the Vulcans came back to take a 13-12 margin after kills by Alexandria Parisian (Chippwa/Cree) and Bria Beale. Points later, after an Emily Wade kill, UH Hilo led 17-16. But after a side out, the Sharks hit another gear with Collie on the serve. They would score eight straight points to take a commanding 24-17 lead before tying down the set and the match, 25-19.
The Vulcans didn’t have anyone reach double figure kill totals, but were led by Parisian and Beale’s nine each. Wade had eight, and the 6-foor-3 freshman also had two solo blocks and five block assists. Beale and Kaila Lizama had 10 digs each.
The Vulcans will have a week of practice before heading out on a five-match road trip in northern California, beginning with a Saturday (Sept. 28) match at Dominican.
