The importance of Siera Green to UH-Hilo’s volleyball team was on display 75 times.
That’s how many swings Marley Strand-Nicolaisen had to take Saturday night in a four-set loss to PacWest power Dominican at the Vulcans’ gym.
“That’s too many,” coach Tino Reyes said.
The total is also all too necessary.
“Marley’s numbers have to come down, but we don’t have too many options,” Reyes said.
With Green sidelined with a sprained ankle, UH-Hilo’s dearth of outside hitters was on display during a 30-28, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19 setback, its second loss in a row.
Haylee Roberts was solid with 17 kills and a .352 hitting percentage, and Strand-Nicolaisen also reached 17 kills on far more attack attempts, hitting .120 to go along with 21 digs. Kyndra Trevino-Scott added seven kills and Kayla Balezentis posted six.
The Vulcans (7-10, 5-7) lost the serving battle, with two aces and nine errors.
While giving the Penguins (14-7, 10-3) their due, Reyes was crankiest about a first set that the Vulcans let get away after leading 21-18.
“We just shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes,” he said. “They stole that first game.”
Reyes said Green would be out for the remainder of the homestand, which continues at 5 p.m. Monday against Azusa Pacific (9-12, 5-7), which in a three-way for seventh in the PacWest along with UH-Hilo and Chaminade.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s Think Pink at UH-Hilo gym. Any fan wearing pink attire will receive free admission.
Azusa Pacific will close a three-match Hawaii swing on Monday, having swept BYU-Hawaii and lost to Hawaii Pacific in five sets on Saturday.
The Vulcans swept the Cougars on Sept. 29 in Southern California.
“We have to assume they got better,” Reyes said. “Hopefully we’ve gotten better, too.”
Golf
The UH-Hilo women will host the 10th Dennis Rose Intercollegiate Golf Tournament on Monday and Tuesday at Waikoloa Kings’ Course.
The Vuls tied for first last year.
• The UH-Manoa women will tee off Monday at Nanea Golf Club in Kailua-Kona in the Pac-12 Preview.
