Aloha ball never felt so elusive.
Again and again and again and again.
UH-Hilo saw four match point slip through its finger tips, and few moments later its 12-match winning streak was gone, too. Hawaii Pacific beat the Vulcans 16-25, 25-22, 25-17, 16-25, 18-16 in Honolulu, leaving the rivals in a tie for third in the Pacific West Conference.
UHH’s Bria Beale had a career-high 25 kills, adding 14 digs and three blocks. Alexandria Parisian had 14 kills and three blocks, and Emily Wade was in double figures with 13 kills and four blocks.
The Vulcans (17-6, 12-3) fell behind in Game 5 but kept chipping away, taking their first lead on Armani Moultrie’s kill (10-9), and they stretched that lead to 13-10 on a Parisian put-away. Another Parisian finish made it 14-12..
The Sharks erased two match points to make it 14-14, but Parisian set up another with a kill (15-14). HPU answered (15-15), and Wade then gave UHH their fourth one-more-point scenario at 16-15.
Perla Escobar then denied the Vulcans again with a kill (16-16). A Vulcans attack error and an ace by Cara McClean ended the match, sending Sharks (16-7, 12-3) rushing onto the court in celebration.
UHH hasdn’t lost since in a four-set loss against the Sharks on Sept. 22, and it has to make a quick turnaround before playing first-place Chaminade at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Escobar finished with 20 kills and 17 digs as the Sharks hit .202.
The Vulcans hit .263 in the match and held olding slight lead in kills (68-65), digs (77-76) and blocks (8-6).
UHH setter Kendall Kott had 54 assists and 16 digs, and Kaila Lizama added 21 digs.