HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University women's volleyball closed out Saturday afternoon at the Shark Tank with a 3-0 loss to Seattle Pacific, falling 10-25, 15-25, 26-28. The Sharks moved to 1-5 on the season, while Seattle Pacific improved to 5-3.
Seattle Pacific controlled the opening set after HPU scored the first point of the match. The Falcons used an early run to build an 11-2 advantage and later extended the lead to 21-6 before taking the set 25-10.
The Sharks stayed closer early in the second set, taking a 4-3 lead following a kill from Chayse Hoon. Seattle Pacific responded and eventually pulled ahead 20-11. HPU picked up late kills from Alayna Grinstead and Mia Ferdinand, but the Falcons closed the set 25-15 to take a 2-0 advantage.
HPU responded with its strongest set of the match in the third. The Sharks hit .225 with 15 kills and battled through 12 ties and four lead changes. After trailing 10-9, HPU moved ahead 12-10 and later built a 21-16 advantage. Seattle Pacific answered with five straight points to tie the set at 21-21.
The teams continued trading points down the stretch. HPU held set point at 24-23 and again at 25-24 before Seattle Pacific responded both times. Kare Ann Oshiro delivered a kill to even the set at 26-26, but the Falcons scored the final two points to take the frame 28-26 and complete the sweep.
Sophia Cooper led the Sharks with seven kills and added four digs. Hoon finished with six kills on a .308 hitting percentage, while Grinstead recorded six kills, seven digs and a service ace. Mia Ferdinand added three kills without an attack error, hitting .273.
Taylor Kaoihana led HPU defensively with nine digs, while Lauren Harris recorded nine assists in one set of action. HPU used multiple setters throughout the match, with Jordyn McCutcheon adding six assists and Rosie Larkin and Maile Salang each contributing four.
The Sharks finished with 28 kills, 42 digs and five service aces. Seattle Pacific totaled 44 kills on a .305 hitting percentage and recorded 12 service aces.
