Box Score HONOLULU, HI (October 10, 2014) – The Hawai'i Pacific Volleyball Team (7-7, 5-3) gutted out a five-set win (22-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 16-14) against cross-town rival Chaminade (10-8, 3-5) on Friday night at St. Andrew's Priory.

Volleyball pundits will tell you that it is imperative to get off to a good start in the fifth set. The Sharks turned that logic on its head as HPU fell behind 4-0 before rallying to win. HPU needed until late to work its way back, Kasey Thompson gave HPU the lead at 12-11. Two big swings from Elizabeth Culpepper put HPU on the brink at 14-12. Back came the Silverswords, taking the next two points to tie the set at 14. A CUH service error opened the door before Pomai Recca and Haley Doerfler slammed it shut with a block.

If freshman Cheyenne Rankin turns out to a great player at HPU, fans will look back at tonight's game and remember it as her coming out party. She didn't put up huge numbers (two kills in two attempts and a block), but she made big plays late in the match.

"The team fought off a very pesky Chaminade team which fought hard for every point. We are very proud of Marie Fujii and Cheyenne Rankin who had some key contributions late in games four and five that helped lead us to victory," said Head Coach Daryl Kapis.

The fourth set was very close throughout (seven ties and three lead changes) as the Sharks staved off elimination. With the scoreboard reading 24-23, Culpepper came up with a clutch kill to keep HPU alive.

HPU had its chances in the third set, but faltered late. After leading 23-21, HPU couldn't close and Chaminade took the last four points and the set.

The Sharks came back refocused and jumped the 'Swords to the tune of a 7-1 lead in the second set. This time there was no letup as HPU continued to grow the lead, leading 22-11 before closing out the second set.

It looked like HPU was going to pick up an easy win in the first set, the Sharks raced out to a 6-0 and 15-8 lead. CUH used two big runs to steal the set, however. A 6-0 run got the Silverswords back in the set at 14-15. Later the visitors grabbed eight of the last nine points to take the set.

Thompson led the offense with 15 kills and a .321 hitting percentage. Culpepper (14), Recca (13), and Doerfler (12) rounded out the balanced HPU attack. Tenika Wentworth did most of the setting, earning 41 assists. HPU also played well on defense with three players registering double-digits digs lead by Amanda Moriarty's 21.

HPU returns to action on Tuesday (10/14) to host Dixie State at 7:00 p.m. at St. Andrew's Priory.