FRESNO, Calif. —Hawai'i Pacific University blocked its way back into Wednesday night's match at Fresno Pacific on the way to a come-from-behind 3-2 PacWest Conference win at the FPU Special Events Center.
 
The Sharks (7-6, 3-1) got a season-high 16.0 team blocks as they beat the Sunbirds (3-6, 1-4) 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 25-14, 15-12.
 
The HPU block parade was led by Carson Pyle, a 6-1 sophomore from Houston, Texas/Memorial, who had a season-high 11 total blocks. Pyle just missed a double-double with nine kills and a .261 hitting percentage.
 
Once again senior Pomai Recca, the 5-9 outside hitter from Waimanalo, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama, led the attack and just missed a 20-20 game with 19 kills and 22 digs, while hitting .292. Freshman outside hitter Perla Escobar of Calexico, Calif./Calexico, double-doubled with 15 kills and 10 digs.
 
HPU grabbed the early lead in the match by snapping a 21-all tie by winning four of the next five points and claimed the set on a kill by Recca for the 25-22 win.
 
But the Sunbirds answered back in the second set by winning four of the last five points after the Sharks held a 22-21 lead, evening the match with a 25-23 win.
 
The third set found HPU up 13-11 before Fresno Pacific went on a 6-0 run to take control of the middle frame. HPU was able to close it back to a four-point deficit before FPU went on a 3-0 run for a 25-18 win and a 2-1 lead.
 
The fourth belonged to the Sharks, who never trailed in the set.  Leading 10-9 in the fourth, the Sharks went on an 11-2 streak that included a four-point and six-point run to dominate the Sunbirds 25-14.
 
The Sharks defense stepped up as well, collecting seven of the 16 team blocks in the fourth and fifth set.
 
In the final frame, the teams juggled the lead to a 11-all tie when a kill sophomore Kayla Demari from Dana Point, Calif./JSerra Catholic gave HPU the advantage again and ignited a 4-1 run to win the set and match 15-12.
 
FPU was paced by Karah Mitchell with 15 kills and 13 digs, while Carley Block added 12 kills with four blocks. Hailey Hilvers led the Sunbirds with eight blocks.
 
HPU continues its week-long, four-match road swing in California with the third match of the series. The Sharks face Holy Names on Friday in Oakland. First serve at Tobin Gym is 4 p.m. HST (7 p.m. PDT).