UH-Hilo is cruising through Northern California again.
After a rocky first set, the Vulcans did what they were supposed to do against the Holy Names Hawks: sweep them.
Bria Beale smacked 19 kills Wednesday in Oakland and Emily Wade hit a pristine .818 in putting down nine kills as UHH won its third match in a row, all on the road, 28-26, 25-8, 25-14.
The Vuls (8-5, 3-2 Pacific West Conference) made 11 attack errors in the first set but none after that in hitting .300.
Along with five kills, Amber Tai served five of UHH’s 11 aces, and setter Kendall Kott chipped in with three.
For the fifth time in six matches, Sierra Allen posted a double-figure kills – seven of her 13 came in the first set – for the Hawks (2-11, 1-6), who the Vuls are 11-1 against all-time.
Without dropping a set yet on a five-match, eight-day trip, the Vuls head to San Francisco on Thursday to play Academy of Art (4-9, 2-4).
UHH went 5-0 on its swing though Northern California last season.
Allen had Holy Names in position to steal the first set, but Wade’s kill wasted one set point, and later Beal put down consecutive kills to seal Game 1.
The Vulcans rolled in Game 2. After taking a 4-0 lead, thanks in part to back-to-back aces by Kott, then ahead 11-5, UHH scored 12 straight points, four coming off aces by Tai. The Vuls hit .471 in the set.
The Vulcans went on another long run in the third set. Tied at 7-7, UHH scored seven straight points, three on kills by Beale, two on aces by Kaila Lizama. The Vuls were never threatened after that.
