The fifth and final match on the road in California might have been the first time UH-Hilo’s volleyball team missed Lucee Fitzgerald.
The fifth and final match on the road in California might have been the first time UH-Hilo’s volleyball team missed Lucee Fitzgerald.
Or, ahead by a set heading to Game 4 on Friday night at Fresno Pacific, perhaps the Vulcans just ran out of gas.
The Sunbirds came up with a season-high 76 kills and hit .476 in the fifth set to end UHH’s four-match conference winning streak, surviving 18-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-15, 15-7.
The Vulcans, led by Siera Green’s 16 kills, return home 5-5 in the Pacific West Conference and 8-9 overall.
The Vulcans were without Fitzgerald for the third consecutive match. Fitzgerald, injured against Notre Dame de Namur on Monday, is third on the team in kills per set.
UHH might have been able to use her in the final two sets – it never led in either one.
Evelin Solyomvari tallied nine kills and Randi Hunter added eight. The Vulcans won the blocking battle 17-9 but hit only .181. Green notched a double-double with 13 digs.
Five players reached double figures in kills for the Sunbirds (8-10, 6-3), who beat the Vuls for the second time this season.
The Vulcans get a rest before hosting Dominican on Friday.
Wahine win
Emily Maglio compiled 14 kills and 10 blocks – tying a career-high – and Hawaii won at Long Beach State, 16-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-22.
The senior middle blocker has posted double-digit kills in eight of the past nine matches.
McKenna Granato overcame a slow start to finish with her seventh double-double of the year with 10 kills and 15 digs, spurring the Rainbow Wahine (12-6, 6-1 Big West) with five kills in the third set.
Megan Kruidhof blasted 13 kills for Long Beach (5-15, 2-5), but UH was able to extend a seven-match conference road winning streak.
The Wahine hit .233, overcoming 16 service errors.