Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University opened the 2019 volleyball season with a pair of come from behind wins, downing West Virginia State 3-1 and Chico State 3-2 on Friday in the Hawai'i Challenge in its new home at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (2-0) won their first match at the new home by beating WVSU (0-1) 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-17 on Friday morning, then closed the night with a five-set triumph over Chico State (1-2) 25-22, 25-27, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12.
 
In the first contest HPU was paced by the play of sophomore Kirah Boynton-Brown of Vancouver, Wash./Union who hit .857 for the match, recording 12 kills on 14 attempts and added three blocks. Senior Perla Escobar of Calexico, Calif./Calexico recorded 13 kills and hit .303 against the Yellowjackets, while junior Cameryn Collie of El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge posted 10 kills.
 
West Virginia State was led by Jenna Dufresne with eight kills and a .421 hitting percentage.
 
In the nightcap, the Sharks overcame a 2-1 set score by claiming the last two sets for the 3-2 win.
 
HPU got 18 kills, 10 digs and a 333 hitting percentage from Collie, while Escobar notched 15 kills and 15 digs. Boynton-Brown tallied just seven kills but led the team with five blocks.
 
Chico State stayed in the contest by the play of senior Kim Wright who just missed a triple-double with 28 kills, 15 digs and nine blocks while hitting .451. Makaela Keeve racked up 21 kills with 13 digs and three blocks.
 
HPU concludes the tournament on Saturday when the Sharks meet Sonoma State at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Minot State at 7:30 p.m. Hawai'i Hilo takes on West Virginia State in the middle game at 5:30, all three contests at The Shark Tank.