Late rally helps HPU end losing streak at 2
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Hawai'i Pacific volleyball team rallied from two games down to beat Chaminade, 26-30, 27-30, 30-22, 30-18 15-12, last night at McCabe Gym.
The Lady Sea Warriors snapped a two-match losing streak to improve to 15-2 overall, 9-2 in the Pacific West Conference. They need to win their remaining four PacWest matches to guarantee the conference championship and the automatic berth to the NCAA II Pacific Regionals that goes with it.
Roberta Robert, who struggled in HPU's loss to Brigham Young-Hawai'i on Friday, led HPU with 26 kills on .333 hitting, 15 digs, six block assists and two service aces. The Lady Sea Warriors also got major contributions from Andrea Wean (22 kills with 10 digs, two solo blocks, six block assists and two service aces) and Nia Tuitele (60 assists and 18 digs).
"Last night just hurt too much," Robert said. "Tonight everybody wanted the same thing: Just win."
Chaminade was led by Julianne Hastert, who had 20 kills and 14 digs. Jessica Robins chipped in 15 kills and 19 digs.
"I think we finally showed up," said HPU head coach Tita Ahuna. "We've been sleeping for a little bit but the ladies played tonight with a lot of heart and a lot of emotion — more emotion than we've seen all season."
Still, the emotional edge seemed to be with Chaminade early on. Robins' kill off a quick set by Janeen Waialae gave Chaminade a 14-8 lead in the first game and ignited an already raucus crowd.
HPU got within a point late in the game, but couldn't overcome a series of miscues.
HPU's struggles continued in the second game when they gave up an early five-point lead with string of errors.
Ahead 16-13, the Lady Sea Warriors lost a point when they were called for using the wrong server. Wean gave up the next two points on hitting errors to tie the game. The two teams fought through 11 ties down the stretch before Chaminade finally put it away with an ace by Hastert, a kill by Valasi Sepulona and a block by Waialae and Shanna Willing on Summer Castillo.
"Even after those two losses, we knew we could win it," Robert said.
To do that, HPU changed from a check defense to a rotation that resulted in seven blocks in the next two games.
Robert broke open what was a close third game with an ace and two kills on consecutive possessions to give HPU a 22-15 lead and control of the game.
With their defense holding HPU in check, Wean, Robert and Teisa Fotu blitzed the shellshocked Silverswords on offense as the Lady Sea Warriors dominated the fourth game.
After another tight start, HPU took control of the decisive fifth game with more defense. Castillo ended the night with a kill off Waialae and Robins.
With the loss, Chaminade drops to 6-8, 3-3 PacWest.
• BYUH wins: Ashley Moeai had 18 kills and Leiau Meatoga had six aces as Brigham Young-Hawai'i beat Hawai'i-Hilo, 30-27, 31-29, 30-24, in a Pacific West Conference match last night at the Cannon Activities Center.
Xu Dan had 12 kills and Karla Ribeiro added 11 for the Seasiders.
Tiffanie Ollison had seven kills to lead the Vulcans.
BYUH improved to 9-5 overall and 5-4 in the PacWest. Hilo dropped to 7-11 and 2-8.
