TURLOCK, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University took a second straight match to five sets at the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, but Chico State made the come from behind move this time for a 3-2 victory.
 
The Wildcats (5-3) tripped up the Sharks (4-5) 27-25, 23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10.
 
The two hour, 20 minute match was as close as it could be, featuring lead changes in all five sets, 18 in all, and 39 total ties through the contest.
 
HPU senior Pomai Recca chalked up a 20-20 match, with 23 kills to lead both teams and 22 digs to go with three blocks. Perla Escobar and Alison McCollum each added 10 kills for the Sharks, while Amanda Acosta tallied 23 digs.
 
Carson Pyle led the Shark blockers with five as HPU recorded 8.0 team blocks.
 
Chico State was paced by the twin attack of Olivia Mediano and Camryn Rocha. Each tallied 19 kills and three blocks, with Mediano adding 15 digs for a double-double.  Rocha hit .320 for the match.
 
The teams were nearly equal on the attack with Chico hitting .206 and HP .186 for the match.
 
The match was even all the way to 9-9 in the deciding set. That's when Chico State went on a 5-0 run to take a 14-9 advantage. The Sharks collected a score before the Wildcats' Mediano recorded her final kill to end the match.
 
After letting a late first set lead slip away in the 27-25 Chico win, the Sharks answered with a strong rally to overcome a 20-16 deficit to grab the second set 25-23.
 
In the third, HPU overcame a 20-18 Wildcat lead to get a 25-23 win on a Recca kill that ended the set.
 
The Sharks opened the fourth set with a 7-3 lead, only to have five HPU errors along with an ace key a seven-point Chico State run that allowed the Wildcats to gain a lead they would not relinquish.
 
HPU returns to the island and is in action again against cross-town rival Chaminade next Saturday evening.
 
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