HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University opened the PacWest Conference volleyball season on the plus side as HPU defeated Notre Dame de Namur 3-2 on Saturday night at James Castle Gym at St. Andrew's Priory.
 
The Sharks (2-5, 1-0) downed the Argonauts (1-9, 0-2) 25-23, 14-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11 in the two hour, 25 minute match.
 
"It's a great way to open conference play," said HPU coach Jenic Tumaneng. "I was pleased how they fought through the match and stayed the course. It's a good win."
 
The Sharks hit .217 with 5.0 team blocks, and held the Argos to a .209 hitting percentage with 4.0 team blocks.
 
HPU was paced by the double-double of junior Perla Escobar of Calexico, Calif./Calexico, who tallied 15 kills and 14 digs. Sophomore Camryn Collie of El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge, led the Sharks with a .381 hitting percentage with 10 kills. Sophomore Sierra Piester of Carlsbad, Calif./Tri-City Christian notched 10 kills and led the team with four blocks, with senior Carson Pyle of Houston, Texas/Memorial adding nine kills with three blocks.
 
NDNU featured four players with double-digit kills, led by Rowan Jack with 15 kills and 19 digs, as Destiny Williams recorded 11 kills, a .409 hitting percentage and two blocks. Rebecca Lee and Kathlin Martinez both had 10 kills with two blocks.
 
The Sharks had a four-point lead close to one at 24-23 before a Collie kill gave the HPU the opener.
 
After NDNU blitzed the Sharks 25-14 in the second set, the teams battled to a 20-all tie in the third. NDNU pulled away for a 24-21 advantage before the HPU closed the gap to 24-23 after an ace by junior Amanda Acosta of Exeter, Calif./Extra Union. By the Argos rallied to get a kill by Williams to win 25-23.
 
The Sharks jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in the fourth set, and pushed it out to a 20-11 advantage on a kill by Piester. Then HPU held off the Argos as Escobar provided the winning kill for a 25-18 triumph to even the match at two sets apiece.
 
In the deciding set, the Sharks used 3-0 run to build a four-point lead midway through and held on. NDNU pulled within two at 12-10 before HPU finished a 3-1 run and won the contest thanks to an Escobar slam for a 15-11 final set win and a 3-2 triumph.
 
The Sharks don't have much time to enjoy the win. HPU continues PacWest play in hosting Dominican (Calif.) on Monday night at Castle Gym. First serve is set for 7 p.m.