MARSHALL, Texas — No. 8 Hawai'i Pacific University opened the season with a bang, posting the fifth-highest score of the season nationally beating East Texas Baptist 271.860-240.705 on Wednesday evening at ETBU's Ornelas Gym.
 
The Sharks (1-0) dominated the Tigers (0-3) from start-to-finish. The 271.860 points rank only behind Oregon and Baylor, who have scored higher twice this season.
 
HPU opened the meet scoring 37.45 in the Compulsory event, that included a 9.80 in the toss heat.
 
The Sharks dropped only .75 points from their start value in the Acro event, bettering ETBU by almost five points in the combination with a 29.20. The Sharks repeated the scoring in the Pyramid, posting a 9.90 in the open heat to take a commanding 95.85 to 84.45 lead at the intermission.
 
HPU expanded its lead in the Toss event with a 27.05 to ETBU's 25.55, then all but put away the Tigers in the Tumbling event. The Sharks scored 54.300 to the Tigers 48.775, as HPU posted a 9.600 in the open pass, a 9.425 in the aerial pass and a 9.350 in the duo pass.
 
The Sharks shined in the first culminating Team event of the season. HPU lost just 7.20 points off its start value of 102.46 to enjoy a 94.66 score in the event. ETBU posted an 81.93.
 
The meet is the first of three on a Texas swing for the Sharks that comprises the acrobatics and tumbling regular season because of the pandemic. The eighth-ranked Sharks visit top-ranked Baylor on Saturday at the Farrell Center in Waco, Texas. Meet time is scheduled for Noon HST (5 p.m. CDT).