HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University women's volleyball opened its home schedule Thursday night at the Shark Tank, falling to Western Oregon in four sets, 22-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-27. The loss moved HPU to 0-3 on the season, while Western Oregon improved to 4-2.
The Sharks finished with 54 kills and a .205 hitting percentage, outhitting Western Oregon, which recorded 51 kills at a .188 clip. HPU also totaled 73 digs, seven service aces and 12 total blocks.
Sophia Cooper and Ella Schoene led the HPU attack with 15 kills apiece. Cooper hit .300 and added three aces and seven digs, while Schoene produced a .520 hitting percentage with just two errors on 25 attempts. Schoene also contributed seven blocks, including one solo.
Western Oregon took a competitive opening set 25-22 before HPU answered with its strongest offensive set of the night. The Sharks hit .333 with 15 kills in the second and jumped out to an 8-2 advantage before eventually extending the lead to 12-6. HPU closed the set with consecutive blocks from Schoene and Chayse Hoon to take it 25-20 and even the match.
The Wolves regained the advantage with a 25-20 win in the third set. HPU kept the frame close through the middle stages, taking a 14-11 lead before Western Oregon responded. The Wolves eventually built a 22-16 advantage, and despite a late push from the Sharks, closed the set to move ahead 2-1.
HPU came out quickly in the fourth, opening an 8-2 advantage behind kills from Schoene, Cooper and Kare Ann Oshiro along with a Cooper service ace. The Sharks remained in front for much of the set and held a 24-22 advantage late. Western Oregon fought off the set points and moved ahead 25-24 before Taylor Kaoihana tied the frame at 25 with a kill. The Wolves scored the final two points to take the set 27-25 and the match 3-1.
Behind Cooper and Schoene, Oshiro finished with 10 kills and 11 digs. Hoon added seven kills and five blocks, while Mia Ferdinand recorded five kills and four blocks. Jordyn McCutcheon led the Sharks with 28 assists and added 11 digs and two service aces. Taylor Kaoihana recorded 13 digs, while Rosie Larkin contributed 16 assists and nine digs.
Western Oregon was led offensively by Payton Davis, who finished with 19 kills on a .364 hitting percentage and 19 digs. Madi Noel recorded a match-high 21 digs.
