IRVINE – The Hawai'i Pacific University women's volleyball team continued PacWest Conference play Friday evening, falling to CUI in three sets at CU Arena.
The Sharks (1-8, 0-3 PacWest) fell 25-18, 25-7, 25-16.
HPU put together its strongest push in the opening set. After trailing early, the Sharks worked their way back and eventually pulled even at 14-14. Hawai'i Pacific later took a 16-15 advantage following a kill from Ella Schoene before CUI responded down the stretch to take the set, 25-18.
The Sharks struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the second, finishing with three kills as CUI took the frame, 25-7. HPU regrouped in the third and stayed within two at 10-8 following an Alayna Grinstead kill and a CUI attack error. The Sharks continued battling late, scoring three straight points with match point facing them before CUI closed out the set, 25-16.
Schoene paced Hawai'i Pacific offensively with five kills on nine attempts for a .333 hitting percentage while adding three block assists. Sophia Cooper followed with four kills and eight digs, while Grinstead and Mia Ferdinand each contributed two kills. Ferdinand also finished with three blocks, including HPU's lone solo block.
Jordyn McCutcheon led the Sharks defensively with nine digs and added six assists. Lauren Harris recorded eight digs and a team-high seven assists, while Taylor Kaoihana contributed seven digs. HPU finished the match with 47 digs and six total blocks.
