Outside hitters get all the glory, but a good libero in volleyball can be priceless.
Liberos might show not up big the box score, but the position’s importance doesn’t need to be explained to UH-Hilo these days.
The Vulcans were without Mina Grant for the second consecutive day, and they again looked lost in Northern California, falling to Academy of Art, 27-25, 25-23, 26-24 in San Francisco.
“If you have a good libero, it solidifies your passing,” coach Tino Reyes.
And when passes are off, that starts to effect a team’s hitting. The Vulcans (9-14, 7-11) hit just .136 in losing their third match in a row. The last two were without Grant, who is battling a back injury.
Marley Strand-Nicolaisen notched 14 kills with 12 digs, but she got little help. Haylee Roberts was next in line with four kills and Siera Green, still working her way back from an ankle injury, added three to go along with 12 digs. Grant’s absence perhaps most hampered the production of middle blocker Kyndra Trevino-Scott, who took just nine swings.
“We just can’t get over the hump,” Reyes said.
Kabrina Speakman led the Urban Knights (7-19, 5-12) with 17 kills.
UH-Hilo wraps up it trip Monday at Dominican.
Wahine win
Nikki Taylor pounded 16 kills, Annie Mitchem added eight and Hawaii swept Cal Davis 25-19, 25-19, 25-16 in Davis, Calif.
Playing their last regular-season road game, the Rainbow Wahine (20-5, 13-1 Big West) ran their winning streak to eight in a row.
Aima Eichie popsted 14 kills for the Aggies (13-14, 6-8).
