Box Score ELLENSBURG, WA (September 4, 2014) – Hawai'i Pacific Volleyball Coach Daryl Kapis has talked at length about the strength of his non-conference schedule during the off-season. Early indications are that the Sharks belong. Today, in the season opener, the Sharks (0-1) gave #11 UC San Diego (1-0) all it could handle in a five set defeat (19-25, 25-23, 25-14, 19-25, 15-17).

The first set was controlled early by the Tritons. After the set was tied at two, UCSD raced out to a 12-4 lead. HPU was able to pull to within three twice at 18-15 and 19-16, but couldn't get any closer.

The second set didn't look much different to start, UCSD had a 19-15 lead as the set headed to the late stages. The Sharks rebounded with five consecutive points, including a Kasey Thompson kill and an Amanda Moriarty ace, to seize a 20-19 lead. Momentum jumped back on the UCSD side as it took at 22-20 advantage. A UCSD hitting error and an ace from Thompson tied the set at 22. Then, kills from Haley Doerfler and Elizabeth Culpepper (pictured) put HPU on the brink of victory before a UCSD service error ended it.

The Sharks rode the wave into third set and jumped out to a 12-5 lead. It was too much HPU in the third as UCSD never got to within four points of the lead.

The fourth set was tied early at six all, but a 7-3 run from UCSD gave it control. Pomai Recca's kill and a UCSD hitting error got HPU back into the set at 18-16, but the Sharks could draw no closer.

The Tritons grabbed control of the decisive set with a 12-9 lead. HPU didn't fade, rattling off four of the next five points to tie the set at 13. The set went back and forth, seeing ties at 15 and at 16. However, UCSD was able to score the next two points to win the match.

"This match was a very good way to start the season, our team battled but we came up just short. We'll be ready tomorrow," said Recca, who led the team with 15 kills and added 18 digs.

Kapis echoed the same sentiments, "This was a very encouraging start to our season, we showed we can play with teams like UC San Diego. That's why we came to this tournament, to play the very best the west region has to offer, and we proved today that we can compete with them. We just have to get over the hump."

Tenika Wentworth, starting her first match as a true freshman, played well, passing out 36 assists. Moriarty, now playing libero, led the team in digs (23) and aces (6). Culpepper added 12 kills as Doerfler had seven to go with 4.5 blocks.

The road doesn't get any easier tomorrow as HPU plays #8 Cal State San Bernardino at 3 p.m. PST and then Cal State Stanislaus at 8:00 p.m. PST.