Armani Moultrie stepped up to hammer 17 kills, Kaila Lizama also reached a career-high with 29 digs and Bria Beale was ever reliable with 14 kills and 23 digs as UH-Hilo swept Fresno Pacific 25-19, 26-24, 25-22 on Saturday night for their ninth consecutive victory.
Moultrie’s previous high was nine kills, Lizama’s was 28 digs. Moultrie, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker, hit 556 for the Vulcans (14-5, 9-2 Pacific West Conference), who were set to make a quick turnaround and face Dominican on Sunday night.
The second set was a back and forth affair, with numerous ties—including at 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Prior to that, the Sunbirds had set point at 24-23, but the Vulcans scored the final three points, one of them on a Moultrie swing. She had six kills in the set and Beale had five. The third set was similar, tied at 17-17. The Vulcans then scored four of the next five points (21-18), and although the Sunbirds would close to 23-22, UHH closed out the evening at 25-22.
“Fresno Pacific is a scrappy team that doesn’t quit,” Vulcans coach Chris Leonard said. “We are still learning that you have to bring it every night in this conference, and it many ways tonight we did.”
Fresno Pacific (2-19, 1-11) was led by freshman Corinne Acosta’s 11 kills and 19 digs. Sierra LeBeau added 14 digs for the Sunbirds.
“I am pleased with how hard we worked.” Leonard added. “We have to get ready to go again tomorrow, always looking to get better every time we hit the court.”