HONOLULU — Hawai'i Pacific University had three players in double digit kills as the Sharks ran their win streak to six straight with a 3-1 PacWest Conference victory against Point Loma Monday night in James Castle Gym at St. Andrew's Priory.
 
The Sharks (14-7, 10-2) remained one loss out of first place as they handled the Sea Lions (8-13, 6-6) 25-19, 25-20, 24-26, 25-15.
 
"Yes it's six in a row, but to us it just one in a row because we're taking them one at a time because you're only as good as you're only as good as your last game," said HPU coach Jenic Tumaneng. "Give credit to Point Loma for not giving up and taking the third set. And then we stepped it up in the fourth set."
 
Senior Pomai Recca continued her lead of the Sharks. The 5-9 outside hitter from Waimanalo, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama, led all players with 19 kills and 21 digs, to go with two blocks and two service aces. The match was her 15th double-double of the season.
 
Freshman Perla Escobar, a 5-9 outside hitter from Calexico, Calif./Calexico, also double-doubled with 15 kills and 15 digs along with two blocks. Freshman Alison McCollum, a 6-1 right side hitter from LaCanada, Calif./Flintridge Sacred Hearts, posted 11 kills with three blocks.
 
HPU hit .270 for the contest with 7.0 team blocks. PLNU posted a .191 hitting percentage with 12.0 team blocks.
 
The Sharks won the first set 25-19, but had to battle it out. After leading 5-1 in the set, Sharks saw the Sea Lions come back to take an 18-17 lead. Following an HPU timeout, the Sharks rallied with five straight points on the way to an 8-1 run to close out the set.
 
The Sharks never trailed in the second set, but once again the pesky Sea Lions made it a contest. HPU needed a 6-2 run midway through the set to open up the lead. The teams traded point until kills by Recca and sophomore Mahea Pescaia of Kailua, Hawai'i/ Kamehameha-Kapalama gave the Sharks a 25-20 set win.
 
HPU and Point Loma traded the lead six times and had 17 tie scores in the third set when the Sharks let the Sea Lions get the better of them. With the Sharks up 23-21, Point Loma rallied for a 5-1 run to steal the set 26-24.
 
The Sharks wouldn't let that happen in the fourth, opening the set with a 9-1 run and holding off Point Loma. While the Sea Lions closed to within six at 21-15, HPU closed the match on a 4-0 run that included a block by Escobar and sophomore Carson Pyle of Houston, Texas/Memorial that gave the Sharks the match with an exclamation point.
 
The Sharks have set up their next match as a battle for the lead in the PacWest Conference when California Baptist visits on Saturday. The seventh match in the nine-match homestand is set for a 6 p.m. first serve at St. Andrew's Priory.