SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Hawai'i Pacific University had its three-match winning streak snapped Saturday afternoon as the Sharks fell to Dominican 3-1 in PacWest Conference play at the Conlan Center .
 
The Penguins (9-6, 5-2) took the tight match over the Sharks (8-7, 4-2) 15-25, 25-20, 25-19, 28-26.
 
HPU hit better than DU, .190 to .183, but the Penguins 11 service aces and 10.0 team blocks did in the Sharks.
 
Senior Pomai Recca had another strong match for HPU in the loss. The 5-9 outside hitter from Waimanalo, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama led both teams with 22 kills, adding 16 digs and four blocks while hitting .296.
 
But Recca was the only Shark with double-digit kills. Freshman rightside hitter Alison McCollum of LaCanada, Calif./Flintridge Sacred Hearts posted nine kills, while freshman outside hitter Perla Escobar of Calexico, Calif./Calexico recorded eight kills.
 
Aimee Steinwand led the Penguins with 15 kills, five service aces, two blocks and 11 digs. Brittany Latigue posted 14 kills with nine blocks and an ace for DU.
 
The Sharks made a valiant bid to send the match to a fifth set and have a shot at extending their streak. Recca had nine of her 22 kills in the fourth set as HPU overcame a 20-16 deficit with a 6-1 run that gave the Sharks a 22-21 lead. DU answered to tie the set and both teams traded points to 26-all.
 
The match ended with an HPU service error, followed by a combined block by DU's Latigue and Hannah Smith to win the fourth set 28-26.
 
The Sharks jumped out to an early lead by winning the first set 25-15 using runs of 6-1 and 7-1 along the way. HPU hit .282 in the set and held DU to .051.
 
The second set featured three big momentum swings. Dominican got up early thanks to an 8-0 run that featured three service aces by Steinward. The gritty sharks battled back and tied the set at 20-all on a kill by sophomore Kayla Demari of Dana Point, Calif./JSerra Catholic.
 
The Penguins regrouped after a timeout and closed the set on a 5-0 run that featured three DU blocks and a service ace.
 
The third set saw DU rally down 10-9 with a 9-2 run that took the air out of the HPU sails and gave the Penguins a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
 
HPU closes the four-game California trip at 3-1.
 
+++ HPU +++