HONOLULU — No. 6 Hawai'i Pacific University found themselves behind in the first half of their meet with Gannon University, but a late event comeback brought the Sharks their first victory of the season 274.990-272.465 over the Lady Knights.
The Sharks (1-2) struggled in the opening Compulsory Acro heat, but held close to #5 Gannon (2-2) in the rest of the event trailing 36.75 – 38.55 after round one.
HPU couldn't find themselves on top of any of the Acro heat passes, but they managed to put up a 9.80 in the six element pass performed by freshman
Avery Tyson, senior
Haley Turner, junior
Amanda Dees, and senior leader
Makayla Garland.
Before halftime, the Sharks performed their best Pyramid Event of the year getting docked only 0.15 points from their 30 points possible. Their lowest score of the Event was a 9.90, and senior
Ivee Kaye, junior
Peyton Frazier, senior
Savannah Day, junior
Brianne Aguigui, senior
Harley Didriksen, sophomore
Kailee Reavis, Turner, Dees and Garland posted a perfect 10 out of 10 in the final heat before halftime bringing the score to 95.20 - 95.60 Knights.
The Sharks slipped a bit more in the Pyramid to the No. 2 team nationally. HPU recorded a 28.70 with a 9.65 in the Open heat. The Ducks tallied a 29.65 and posted a perfect 10.00 in the Open heat. Oregon held a 98.05-95.20 lead at halftime.
After the fifteen minute intermission, Gannon found their third 9.95 score in the first heat of the Toss Event. The Sharks managed a 9.85 in heat 3 with the help of upper classmen
Jordan Sellars, Dees, Day, Kaye, Aguigui, and Garland.
The tides turned in the Tumbling Even with HPU taking all six heats with an event high of 9.80 in the Aerial pass by none other than
Makayla Garland. A Gannon fall brought the Event score to 54.20 – 50.425 and put the Sharks up for the first time in the meet at 177.650 – 175.725.
HPU sealed the deal with a near 3.0 point difference in the team event scoring 97.34 compared to Gannon's 94.490.
The Acro Team is back in action on Thursday, March 26
th at the Shark Tank to face-off with #2 Oregon for the second time this season. The meet begins at 7:00 p.m. HST.
