By MATT GERHART
Everyone played and everyone played well, coach Tino Reyes said after UH-Hilo took down Hawaii Pacific.
It also helps when the Vulcans’ best player performs very well.
Marley Strand-Nicolaisen put down 25 kills Friday night in Honolulu, guiding the Vulcans to a 18-25, 25-9, 25-18, 18-25, 15-10 victory and a sweep of the season series against the Sharks.
“It’s always nice when you can win those five-setters on the road against a good team,” Reyes said.
The Vulcans improved to 3-5 in five-set matches this season.
After dropping the fourth set, UH-Hilo (9-11, 7-8) responded by not making a hitting error in Game 5. It hit. 400 in the final set and .245 overall.
The Sharks (14-9, 10-4) got within 12-10 in Game 5, but kills by Strand-Nicolaisen and Katrina Johnson (seven kills) helped guide the Vulcans to their second consecutive victory.
Strand-Nicolaisen surpassed 20 kills for the seventh time this season and added 11 digs.
Haylee Roberts posted 11 kills and Sienna Davis compiled 46 assists and seven digs.
The Sharks hurt themselves with 11 service errors.
UH-Hilo visits Chaminade on Saturday.
Rainbow Wahine: Annie Mitchem and Emily Maglio stepped up on an off-night for Nikki Taylor and Hawaii swept Long Beach State 25-13, 25-15, 25-16 in front of 8,200 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu to take sole possession of first place in the Big West.
Mitchem hit .619 with 13 kills and Maglio added 10 on .450 hitting. Taylor had six kills.
Soccer
Danica Steele delivered her first goal of the season in the first half, and Jenna Hufford made nine saves Thursday as the Vulcans beat Fresno State 1-0 in Fresno, Calif.
Playing in just her seventh match of the season, Steele took a cross from Sophie Satterlee for the only goal of the night in the 38th minute as UH-Hilo (4-7-4, 3-5-1 PacWest) won its second game in a row.
The Sunbirds (8-7-1, 6-5-1) held a 24-10 advantage in shots.
Fresno Pacific men 2, UH-Hilo 1: Eric Sanchez scored midway through the second half, denying UH-Hilo its first league win of the season.
Just five minutes before Sanchez’s goal, Rodrigo Castellanos tallied his second goal of the season, off assists from Jake Sagami and Hilo High grad Edward Torrison.
Cassidy Dixon, a Honokaa High graduate, made a career-high 11 saves for the Vulcans (1-14-1, 1-7-1).
The Sunbirds (7-7-3, 5-4-2) escaped when Sagami’s attempt at an equalizer in the final minute hit the crossbar.
UH-Hilo soccer closes its season Saturday at Holy Names.
Golf
UH-Hilo freshman Taylor Patrick shot a 1-over 73 on Friday during the first round of the Kaanapali Collegiate Classic on Maui.
The Vulcans are the only Division II team in the field. Patrick was tied for 34th in the field of 132 for UH-Hilo (31-over 315), which was last of 24 teams.
UH-Manoa (295) was tied for 10th, 13th strokes behind first-place South Carolina. Pono Tokioka carded a 70 for the Rainbow Warriors and Waiakea graduate Trevor Hirata shot 79.
Also for UH-Hilo, Jared Kinoshita carded a 78, followed by Jeffery Yamaguchi (81), Braeden Campbell (83) and Trevor Kua (88).
The second and third rounds will be held Saturday and Sunday.
Women: The Lady Vulcans wrapped up their fall season Thursday at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Wahiawa, Oahu, with Kristeena Locke turning in a 15-over 231 and tying for 30th.
UH-Hilo (11-over 975) finished 112 strokes behind the winner, Sacramento State.
UH-Manoa was (875) was fourth as Raquel Ek finished at 218, tying for fifth.
Julia Becker (68-72-71–211) of Sacramento State carded a one-shot win.
For the Vuls, Waiakea graduate Andi Igawa tied for 33rd at 17-over, Erin Costes shot 253 and Mariah Paiste and Waiakea grad Keely Kitamura were at 259 and 262, respectively.