Box Score HONOLULU, HI (October 18, 2013) – The Hawai'i Pacific Volleyball Team (13-6, 7-4) ran into a buzz saw on Friday night at St. Andrew's Priory. HPU fell to visiting Azusa Pacific (13-6, 6-4) in straight sets, 25-15, 25-21, and 25-20.

"It was a tough loss to swallow, but I still believe this is a great team. We just need to really improve our mental toughness, especially in critical situations," said HPU Head Coach Daryl Kapis.

The opening set was a complete debacle for the home team. HPU fell behind 6-2 right out of the gate and the Sea Warriors did not recover.

The lopsided first set motivated HPU for the rest of the match. HPU turned the tables in set two by taking a 6-1 lead. HPU continued the onslaught midway through the frame when Kasey Thompson's kill gave HPU a 14-8 lead. However, the Cougars used a 9-3 run to tie the set at 17. Christina Furrer gave HPU the lead back with a kill and an APU hitting error made it 19-17 Sea Warriors. The set of runs continued with APU reeling off the next seven points to essentially end the set.

Undeterred by the 2-0 hole, HPU jumped right back in front in set three when Haley Doerfler gave HPU a 6-4 lead. Doerfler struck again minutes later to give HPU a 13-9 cushion. However, the streaky visitors used on a 9-2 spurt to take an 18-15 lead. HPU did not regain the lead.

Bright spots for the Sea Warriors included Doerfler, who had four total blocks and seven kills while hitting .500. Elizabeth Culpepper was right with her also registering seven kills (.389). The play of the night also belonged to Culpepper, when in mid-rally, she kicked the ball over the next, saving a sure APU point.

HPU returns to action on October 25th when Dixie State visits St. Andrew's Priory at 7:00 p.m.