Forget all the fresh faces. It was a familiar one at struck loudest for UH-Hilo.
Senior outside hitter Evelin Solyomvari tied a career high with 14 kills Friday morning and the Vulcans cruised past Saint Martin’s 25-19, 25-16, 25-18 in their season opener at the inaugural First Hawaiian Bank Volleyball Challenge at the Vulcans’ gymnasium.
Later in the day, the Vuls dropped a tough five-setter t0 UC San Diego, 15-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-7, before the the remainder of the tournament was canceled by torrential rain.
As Hurricane Lane continued to hammer Hilo, Solyomvari did the same to Saint Martin’s, posting a sizzling .400 hitting percentage.
As for the newcomers, sophomore transfer Bria Beale (UC Irvine) added 11 kills, three service aces and 15 digs, while freshman outside hitter Teisa Tuioti added eight kills.
“We were pretty balanced tonight, that could likely be our theme when things are going well,” Vulcans coach Gene Krieger said in a release.
Senior libero Mina Grant had 21 digs as the Vuls totaled 61.
“That’s a good total for a three-set match,” Krieger added.
The Vulcans never trailed in a match that took just under one hour and 20 minutes.
They hit. 333 in the second set, and finished the match off with a Beale kill off the block.