SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The Hawaii Pacific University volleyball team continued their road trip, visiting the Dominican University of California Wednesday night. It was a five set thriller that unfortunately did not go the way of HPU, falling 3-2 to Dominican. 

The Sharks (2-22, 2-16 Pacwest) will go up against the Hawks in their next match, while the Penguins (1-26, 1-18 Pacwest) earn their first victory of the season. 
 
The first set saw nine total ties between the two teams as they battled to a 14-14 scoreline. Junior middle blocker Lachelle Sikes earned a kill for the Sharks, which led to a 4-0 run, giving HPU some cushion. Dominican fought back to within one point before another four point run extended the Sharks' lead to five, 22-17. Hawaii Pacific closed out set one, winning 25-20. 

The Penguins came out roaring in the second set, scoring the first four points. They held the lead until the Sharks were able to tie it at 17 all. While it seemed that momentum favored HPU, Dominican was able to reestablish their lead, taking the second set 25-21. 
 
A much different Sharks came out in the third set as they exploded on a 13-4 run. They suffocated the Penguins as they finished the set on a 4-0 run, winning the third set, 25-12, and taking a 2-1 set lead.  

In the fourth set, the Penguins took a slight lead of 10-5. The Sharks battled back, eventually tying the game up at 16 a piece. The back-and-forth scoring that was seen in the first set, carried into the fourth. The Sharks would always score a point, and the Penguins would respond. The score was 22-21 in favor of HPU, with another victory in their sight. However, Dominican was not ready to lose yet, as they broke loose for a 4-0 run, putting them on set point. Hawaii Pacific attempted to tie it up, but fell short as the Penguins took set four 25-23, knotting the game at two sets a piece. 

Immediately from the beginning of the final set, it looked like Dominican was going to run away with the game, grabbing an early 5-0 lead. HPU, not down and out yet, closed the deficit to two points, 7-5. Unfortunately for the Sharks, the home crowd gave the Penguins all of the motivation they needed to close out the fifth set, 15-8, as the thrilling match went the way of Dominican, 3-2. 
 
Junior outside hitter Ella Dotson led the Sharks in kills with 11 while freshman middle blocker Marley Sandoval had ten. Graduate setter Maile Powell assisted with 17 kills, while sophomore Pua Beazley helped with 15. Graduate outside hitter Riley Gill had a team leading 17 digs, and sophomore defensive specialist Kohana Fukuchi had an impressive four aces. 
 
The Hawaii Pacific University volleyball team now heads to Tobin Gym to take on Holy Names University tomorrow, November 10, with first serve around 4:00 p.m. HT.