HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Pacific University women's volleyball team fell to Biola University in four sets Friday evening at the HPU Shark Tank, 26-24, 25-18, 14-25, 25-18.
The Sharks (2-12, 1-7 PacWest) pushed the Eagles (14-4, 9-2 PacWest) to extra points in the opening set and responded with a dominant third-set performance before Biola closed out the Pacific West Conference matchup.
HPU finished with 50 kills and a .181 hitting percentage, compared to Biola's 44 kills and .168 hitting percentage. The Sharks also recorded 10 service aces, while the Eagles held advantages in digs (60-56) and blocks (11-7).
Mia Ferdinand led HPU offensively, finishing with a team-high 12 kills on 22 attempts with just one error for a .500 hitting percentage. Ferdinand also contributed six block assists.
Ella Schoene added 11 kills while hitting .346, and Sophia Cooper recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs, along with three service aces. Jordyn McCutcheon directed the offense with 38 assists and nine digs, while Mayah Nakasato led the defense with 15 digs and two aces.
The opening set featured 14 ties as the teams traded points throughout. HPU held a 21-20 advantage before Biola scored three consecutive points to take a 23-21 lead. The Sharks answered with kills from Alohalani Chun and Cooper, along with a block by Ferdinand and McCutcheon, to even the score at 24. Biola claimed the final two points to take the set, 26-24.
Biola opened the second set with a 5-1 advantage, but HPU battled back to tie the score at 5-5 and again at 10-10. The Eagles then put together an eight-point run to take an 18-10 lead. The Sharks narrowed the deficit to five late in the set before Biola secured the 25-18 victory.
HPU responded in the third set, using a balanced offensive attack and strong serving to take control. Leading 15-13, the Sharks extended their advantage to 18-13 behind a kill from Leilani Yanuaria and a service ace from Taylor Kaoihana. HPU then closed the set on a 7-0 run behind the serving of Chun, who recorded an ace during the stretch. The Sharks held Biola to a negative .081 hitting percentage in the set and claimed a 25-14 victory.
The Sharks carried their momentum into the fourth set, jumping ahead 10-5 behind three early kills from Ferdinand. HPU maintained its advantage through much of the set and led 16-12 before Biola mounted a comeback. The Eagles tied the score at 17 and followed with eight of the final nine points to secure the 25-18 victory.
Chun finished with eight kills, seven digs and two service aces, while Yanuaria contributed four kills and two block assists. Kaoihana added 10 digs and two aces.
Biola was led by Savannah Simpson, who finished with 11 kills and seven block assists, while Caprice Cooper recorded a match-high 18 digs and four service aces.
