HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Pacific University volleyball team split its last two contests in the Hawai 'I Challenge on Saturday. HPU fell to Sonoma State 3-0 before closing the tournament with a 3-0 win over Minot State at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (3-1) were swept by the Seawolves (3-1) 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 to open the day's play, then closed the night beating the Beavers 25-27, 25-14, 25-16, 25-23.
 
In the first match, the Sharks hit just .276 while being swept. Junior Cameryn Collie of El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge led the squad with 12 kills, nine digs and a block. Senior Perla Escobar of Calexico, Calif./Calexico added eight kills, while junior Sierra Piester of Carlsbad, Calif./Tri-City Christian tallied seven kills and hit .500.
 
Sonoma State was paced by Caiti Wiesner with 12 kills. Kiana Richardson hit .500 with nine kills and three blocks, as Jenn Trenhan added nine kills, a .471 hitting percentage and nine digs.
 
The Seawolves hit .323 for the match that saw HPU hold a lead in the first and second sets before Sonoma State ruled the last set for the win.
 
In the nightcap, the Sharks allowed an early lead slip by the boards and fell to the Beavers in the first set in extended play. HPU came back to take the next three sets enjoying the lead most of the way.
 
Escobar paced HPU in the win, chalking up a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs with two blocks, four service aces and a .344 hitting percentage. Sophomore Lauren Christie of Lebanon, Ore./Lebanon racked up nine kills and a block with a .316 attack. Sophomore Kirah Boynton-Brown of Vancouver, Wash./Union ruled the net with a game-high six blocks to go with three aces.
 
The Sharks tallied a whopping 16 service aces and 10.0 team blocks for the four set affair.
 
Minot State was led by Shelby Spuller with 14 kills and three blocks with seven digs. Emily Falldorf added eight kills with a team-high .312 attack percentage and three blocks.
 
HPU hit .223 against the Beavers, while MSU hit just .182.
 
The Sharks return to action next weekend in the D2 West Region Showcase at Cal State LA, facing Cal State East Bay on Friday at 9 a.m. HST (Noon PDT), and Alaska at 2 p.m. HST (5 p.m. PDT) at the CSULA Gymnasium.