HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Pacific University opened the season on a down note as the Sharks fell to both Alaska and Alaska Anchorage in three sets in the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge on Friday at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (0-2) lost their opener to the Alaska Nanooks (1-0) 25-21, 25-20, 25-11, then fell to the UAA Seawolves (1-0) in a tight 25-21, 27-25, 26-24 contest.
 
In the opening match, HPU hit .000 with its 24 kills matching its 24 hitting errors, with four blocks. Alaska hit .189 with 11 blocks.
 
The Sharks were led by senior Emily Joseph of Modesto, Calif./Gregori, who tallied seven kills. Senior Kirah Boynton-Brown of Vancouver, Wash./Union posted two blocks.
 
UAF senior Lahra Weber chalked up 12 kills with six service aces and two blocks. Senior Emily Moorhead tallied six blocks in the match.
 
HPU and UAF saw 16 ties and eight lead changes in the first two sets that the Nanooks wok 25-21 and 25-20, but the Nanooks dominated the third set, winning the first 10 points on the way to a 25-11 triumph.
 
In the second match of the day, HPU held leads late in each set before falling to Anchorage in all three sets as the teams combined for 23 ties and 13 lead changes in the match.
 
HPU recorded a .104 hitting percentage with 31 kills against 21 hitting errors, while posting six blocks. The Seawolves hit .122 with 36 kills to 24 errors, and chalked up 12 blocks.
 
The Sharks got eight kills from senior Demi Winters of Gresham, Ore./Barlow and freshman Karina Gatewood of Cerritos, Calif./Cypress, with Gatewood hitting .615 for the match. Winters tallied three blocks.
 
The Seawolves were led by junior Eve Stephens with 12 kills and a .241 hitting percentage. She was one of six UAA players to notch a pair of blocks.
 
The teams will play twice again on Saturday at The Shark Tank. HPU faces Alaska Anchorage at noon, then turns around to host Alaska at 7 p.m.
 
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