UH-Hilo unleashed a conservation plan Friday during the second PacWest Hawaii volleyball pod party.
Any thoughts Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade had of crashing the festivities was swatted away with relative precision by the Vulcans, who needed just seven sets to pick up two wins at their empty gym.
A quick-and-easy dissection of the Sharks in the morning was followed by steady afternoon digestion of the Silverswords. While UHH (5-1) was able to rest up for two more matches Saturday, the two Oahu schools met Friday night — Chaminade won in four — giving each a chance to compare notes in regards to what bus had just run them over.
For starters, it was the Bria Beale bus. After delivering nine kills in a 25-13, 25-14, 25-17 win, the all-conference senior outside hitter put down 19 more, hitting .385, with 11 digs in a 25-16, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20 victory.
The Vulcans and Silverswords (3-3) split a pair of five-set matches two weeks ago on Oahu.
“Chaminade is a very good team, they are aggressive and they attack you,” coach Chris Leonard said in a school release. “They are big and physical. We worked on our blocking this week and I thought we did a nice job of neutralizing their bigger attackers to a certain extent.”
Alexandria Parisian enjoyed a productive day as well. The opposite led the Vuls with 10 kills against HPU (1-5), tacking on 14 more with 13 digs to close the afternoon, while Taira Kaawaloa tallied seven and nine kills, respectively.
UHH appeared on the cusp of making the day a clean sweep when Beale’s kills upped the lead to 21-17 in the third set against the Silverswords. Chaminade fought back, however, reeling five consecutive points, and after a Kaawaloa ace gave the Vulcans a 23-22 lead, the Silverswords scored three in a row to extend the match.
Chaminade led 10-7 in the fourth set, but UHH went on a 5-0 run and wouldn’t trail again. Beale closed the match with two kills.
The Vulcans compiled 11 aces in the match, three apiece from libero Tani Hoke, Beale and Parisian.
“We served very well,” Leonard added. “I thought we passed well and got a lot of touches on the block. Bria was outstanding as usual.”
Setter Kendall Kott combined for 77 assists, while Hoke posted 37 digs on Good Friday.
UHH outhit HPU (.250-.000) and Chaminade (.218-.163).
With eight blocks and six kills, middle Ashton Jessee was the second-highest point scorer against the Sharks, and it was an encouraging sign when UHH won in a sweep. Earlier this season on Oahu, the Vuls needed nine sets for two HPU conquests.
The conservation could come in handy Saturday when UHH faces Hawaii Pacific at 9 a.m. and the Sharks at 7 p.m. The later match was originally scheduled for 5 p.m., but UHH announced Friday night that the start time was moved two hours later. HPU and Chaminade play at 1 p.m.