The fifth-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team dominated the first set, but No. 7 Southern California was relentless the rest of the way.

The result was a 16-30, 30-22, 30-19, 30-23 Trojans victory in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match last night in Los Angeles.

Murphy Troy and Tony Ciarelli each had 16 kills to lead USC (10-6 overall and 8-5 in the MPSF).

Joshua Walker had a match-high 18 kills (7 errors) for UH (11-7 and 7-6). Jonas Umlauft had 16 kills but also had 10 hitting errors for the Warriors.

Hawai'i increased a 16-13 lead with a 9-1 run to easily take the first set.

After hitting .407 in the first set, UH couldn't repeat the success, hitting .146 the rest of the way. Meanwhile the Trojans went from .081 hitting in the first set to hitting over .300 in each of the last three sets, including .654 in the third set.

The Warriors also were outblocked 14.5 to 7.5, including 10 to 2 in the last two sets.

Brothers Maddison and Riley McKibbin, Punahou alumni, had 11 kills and 3 kills, respectively for USC.

The two teams play again tonight.

The Warriors yesterday moved up three spots to No. 5 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 15 men's volleyball poll.

Stanford and Pepperdine switched spots with Stanford moving from No. 2 to No. 1 and Pepperdine from No. 1 to No. 2.

Walker, a junior outside hitter, was named one of the MPSF Players of the Week, sharing the award with Cal State Northridge senior Jacek Ratajczak.

Walker had 15 kills and two aces in a 3-0 win over BYU, and 16 kills and three aces in a 3-0 win at Cal State Northridge. Walker added 23 kills and 13 digs in a 3-2 loss at CSUN.

SOFTBALL

UH PITCHER RICKETTS EARNS WAC HONOR

Hawai'i's Stephanie Ricketts was been named Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced yesterday.

It was the third WAC weekly honor of Ricketts career.

Ricketts, a sophomore from San Jose, Calif., posted a 1.56 ERA in four appearances while holding opponents to a .186 batting average last week. She tied a season high with 10 strikeouts against Seattle on March 5. Ricketts lost a 1-0, eight-inning game to No. 1 Washington in which she fired a three-hitter.

Ricketts is 4-5 this season in 10 starts, with a 2.88 ERA.

The Rainbow Wahine play Troy in a doubleheader tomorrow.

San Jose State's Kelli Fangonilo was named WAC hitter of the week.

Fangonilo, a senior third baseman/outfielder from Palo Alto, Calif., hit .600 (7-of-15) with a double, one homer, five runs scored and seven RBI in four games last week.