SAN DIEGO – Hawai'i Pacific University women's volleyball pushed Point Loma to five sets Wednesday night at Golden Gymnasium before falling 21-25, 25-22, 14-25, 25-17, 15-7.
The Sharks moved to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in PacWest play, while Point Loma improved to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in conference action.
HPU took the opening set 25-21. After falling behind 15-13, the Sharks responded with a pair of Lauren Harris service aces to move ahead 16-15. The teams traded points before HPU used a four-point run, highlighted by a Sophia Cooper ace and an Ella Schoene kill, to build a 21-18 advantage. The Sharks closed the set on consecutive Point Loma attack errors.
The Sharks jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the second behind back-to-back Taylor Kaoihana service aces. Point Loma eventually moved in front and built a 23-16 lead before HPU answered with a late push, scoring five of the next six points to pull within 24-22. Point Loma secured the final point for a 25-22 win to even the match.
HPU regained control in the third set. With the Sharks leading 9-10, Mayah Nakasato took over at the service line as HPU put together an eight-point run. Nakasato recorded four service aces during the stretch, while Mia Ferdinand added a kill and block as the Sharks surged ahead 17-10. HPU continued to pull away and closed the set with consecutive blocks from Cooper and Schoene to win 25-14 and take a 2-1 match lead.
Point Loma answered in the fourth, opening an 11-3 advantage and eventually extending the margin to 21-10. HPU scored five straight late in the set, including kills from Cooper and Schoene and blocks involving Schoene and Ella Snobar, before Point Loma finished the frame 25-17 to force a fifth.
The Sea Lions carried the momentum into the deciding set, taking an 8-4 advantage before extending the lead to 13-5. HPU picked up late points from a Point Loma attack error and a Kaoihana service ace, but the Sea Lions closed out the match 15-7.
Schoene led HPU offensively with 12 kills on a .370 hitting percentage while adding seven block assists. Cooper finished with nine kills, 15 digs and four block assists, while Ferdinand contributed six kills on a .294 hitting percentage with one solo block and five block assists.
The Sharks also produced a strong night from the service line, finishing with 15 aces. Kaoihana and Nakasato recorded five apiece, while Harris added four. Harris finished with 16 assists and 14 digs, McCutcheon added 14 assists and eight digs, and Kaoihana recorded 10 digs.
HPU finished with 37 kills, 62 digs and 15 total blocks while holding Point Loma to a .142 hitting percentage.
