HONOLULU — Hawai'i Pacific University put an end to Dixie State's 10-match winning streak with an exciting 3-1 triumph over the PacWest leader Saturday night at James Castle Gym at St. Andrew's Priory.
 
The Sharks (11-7, 7-2) won their third straight and seventh in the last nine matches with a 14-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-19 decision over the Trailblazers (12-5, 8-1).
 
The win also pulls HPU within a game of the PacWest lead in the loss column. Dixie State drops a half-game behind California Baptist in the league standings.
 
"I'm very proud of the way we played tonight," said HPU coach Jenic Tumaneng. "Our girls are working hard every day to get this kind of opportunity to beat a quality team like Dixie."
 
The Sharks were led by freshman Perla Escobar, the 5-9 outside hitter from Calexico, Calif./Calexico, who led both teams with 16 kills and a .419 hitting percentage.
 
Senior Pomai Recca, the 5-9 outside hitter from Waimanalo, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama, recorded her 12th double-double in 18 matches with her 14 kills and 14 digs. Sophomore Carson Pyle of Houston, Texas/Memorial led the match with four blocks.
 
Dixie State was led by Delayne Daniel, who double-doubled with 14 kills and 12 digs. Kayla Chapman joined Pyle with four blocks in the match.
 
The Sharks opened slowly against the defending PacWest Champions, falling 25-14 before making a comeback.
 
"They kept putting pressure on us on the serving line and we had to make an adjustment on serve-receive," said Tumaneng. "We made the adjustment and did really well on it."
 
In the second set trailing 7-6, HPU got a five-point run on a service by Pyle and turned it into a 7-1 run to build a lead. DSU answered back, to tie the set at 15-all before the Sharks used another 5-0 run and held on for the 25-20 win.
 
Set three saw three ties and three lead changes before HPU went on a 7-2 run to post a 15-11 lead and never look back. The Sharks held a 24-19 lead when Dixie chalked up three quick points to pull within two, but sophomore Kayla Demari, a 6-2 right side hitter from Dana Point, Calif./JSerra Catholic, put down a hammering kill to take the set.
 
The fourth found the Sharks and Trailblazers play nip and tuck until HPU ripped off three straight after being tied at 10-all and take a 13-10 lead.
 
The Sharks wouldn't let the lead get away, but Dixie State played it close down to the end of the set. DSU got to 18-17 when HPU extended it back to 21-17 thanks to a Recca kill and blocks by Lea Felton and Demari. The Trailblazers got back to 21-19, when a Demari kill gave the serve back to the Sharks.
 
Setter Mahea Pescaia, a 5-7 sophomore from Kailua, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama, then served the next three points for the Sharks, ending the match with a service ace.
 
"We got more focus on our side of the net," said Tumaneng. "Dixie's a good team. We wanted and accepted that challenge and rose to the occasion for it."
 
The Sharks continue their nine-match homestand on Thursday. The fourth game of the string brings a rematch with Dominican (Calif.), one of the two PacWest teams that has beaten HPU. Match time is 7 p.m. at Castle Gym.