BELMONT, Calif. – The Hawaii Pacific University volleyball team wrapped up their 2022 season against Academy of Art University Saturday afternoon. An impressive comeback in set two helped propel HPU to a season finale victory, 3-1, over ART U.

The Sharks (3-23, 3-17 PacWest) placed 10th in the PacWest standings, while the Knights (6-23, 5-15 PacWest) were the 8th best team in the PacWest. 
 
Hawaii Pacific gave up the first point of the first set, however, they scored the next eight points to go up 8-1, highlighted by back-to-back aces for graduate outside hitter Riley Gill. The Knights responded with two separate runs to tie the game up at 12 all. From there, the two teams tied seven times, battling to a 26-26 scoreline. HPU finally found two points in a row to give them a 1-0 set lead. 

Set one was competitive, set two saw a comeback. The Sharks quickly found themselves in a major 17-8 deficit to start. A 6-0 run helped them to crawl back, but they still trailed 21-18. HPU then went on to outscore ART U 6-1, including sophomore defensive specialist Kohana Fukuchi scoring back-to-back aces to put them on set point, 24-22. Hawaii Pacific completed the comeback as graduate setter Maile Powell set up Gill for the set winning point, 25-23, with the Sharks now leading 2-0. 
 
The third set was very run heavy in favor of the Academy of Art. Three separate runs of four points or more, were too much for the Sharks to handle, as set three went to the Knights, 25-16. 

Set four saw the first 11 points split between the teams, with ART U taking the one point lead. The Sharks wanted to get ahead in the set, doing so with a 13-4 run to give them a 18-10 lead. The Knights did battle back, but HPU closed the game with two final assists from Powell, one to freshman outside hitter Lindsey Tapp, the other to junior middle blocker Lachelle Sikes, as Hawaii Pacific ended the season with a 3-1 victory. 
 
Gill was all over the place, leading the team in kills (15), digs (15), and aces, tying with Fukuchi at four each. Junior outside hitter Ella Dotson had 12 kills, while Sikes had 11. Sophomore setter Pua Beazley led the Sharks with 24 assists, her setting partner Powell had 18. Defensively, freshman middle blocker Morghn Monahan had one solo block, while assisting with five other blocks. 
 
The Hawaii Pacific University volleyball team concluded their 2022 campaign, placing 10th in the PacWest with a (3-23, 3-17 PacWest) record.