Manoa, HI – The Hawaii Pacific University volleyball team put up a fierce fight but ultimately fell short in a thrilling five-set match against Dominican (CA) at the HPU Shark Tank on Thursday evening. The match, which saw momentum swing back and forth, ended with a 3-2 victory for Dominican by set scores of 25-19, 25-27, 17-25, 28-26, 19-17.
In a game packed with intense rallies and standout performances, Hawaii Pacific (0-7, 0-1 PacWest) displayed determination, pushing Dominican (2-5, 1-0 PacWest) to the edge in every set.
Key Performers:
- Marley Sandoval led the Sharks with a dominant performance, recording 23 kills, 4 blocks, and hitting efficiently across the sets.
- Kate Allan contributed 14 kills and 4 assists, providing consistent offense for the Sharks.
- Ella Schoene added 9 kills, bolstering the attack.
- On defense, Brynne Hopeau-Lampitoc was a standout, leading the team with 26 digs, while Taylor Kaoihana and Tehani Pescaia each chipped in 17 digs.
- Tehani Pescaia also controlled the flow of the game with an impressive 56 assists, helping the offense operate smoothly.
The Sharks started slowly, dropping the first set 25-19, but responded in the second set with a gritty 27-25 win, fueled by Sandoval's offensive output and defensive pressure. They carried that momentum into the third set, where they hit a match-high .343 and cruised to a 25-17 victory.
However, Dominican fought back in the fourth set, edging out HPU 28-26 in a back-and-forth battle to force a deciding fifth set. In the dramatic final set, both teams refused to back down, but Dominican ultimately prevailed 19-17.
Dominican's Reagan Macha led all players with 24 kills and 4 blocks, while Avery Schneider added 16 kills and 3 blocks. Rein Bocage was a force in the back row, leading the Penguins with 28 digs and 3 service aces.
Team Stats:
- Kills: HPU 72, Dominican 68
- Assists: HPU 68, Dominican 61
- Digs: HPU 103, Dominican 72
- Blocks: Dominican 9, HPU 6
- Hitting Percentage: HPU .195, Dominican .204
Despite the narrow loss, HPU showed resilience and skill, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats until the final point.
