Box Score HONOLULU, HI (September 26, 2014) – For the 14th consecutive time on the volleyball court the battle of Honolulu belonged to Hawai'i Pacific. The Sharks (3-6, 1-2) beat cross-town rival Chaminade (7-6, 0-3) in five sets (25-23, 25-21, 17-25, 23-25, 15-11) to earn their first conference win.

The match started off with the Sharks in control, HPU won the first and second sets. It looked like HPU would sweep Chaminade as the Sharks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third set. However, the home team didn't lie down but came storming back. HPU lost the third set going away and fell in the fourth despite a valiant comeback attempt.

An improved Silverswords club was close to its first win against HPU since September of 2008; however The Sharks saved their best play of the night for the fifth and decisive set. HPU started fast with three kills (Haley Doerfler, Pomai Recca, Kasey Thompson) to take a 4-1 lead. After Chaminade got to within two points at 6-4, HPU went on a 4-0 run that featured three kills from Elizabeth Culpepper, including an absolute rocket. HPU was able to hold the big lead and end the night on a kill from Doerfler.

HPU had been 0-3 in five set matches this season.

"It's so nice to get over the hump with winning a five set match, it was only right it went five against our island rival. Now we know we can win a five set match," said Head Coach Daryl Kapis. "A lot of people came off the bench and played well. We really had to use our bench tonight to be successful and we did."

Recca led everyone with a game-high 16 kills to go with 14 digs. Amanda Moriarty had a stellar night defensively with a game-high 26 digs, she also served tough, notching three aces. Tenika Wentworth led the Sharks with 33 assists as Marie Fujii also passed out 13. Thompson contributed 15 kills but it was Culpepper who led the team in hitting (.206).

The Sharks now swim to the Bay Area for a four-game road trip. First up is Academy of Art on October 2nd in San Francisco.