In the kind of West Region-like showdown that UH-Hilo has waited for all season, the Vulcans brought their fight but not their full might.
UHH fought off a 2-0 deficit and six match points Friday before Alaska Anchorage secured a 25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 26-28, 16-14 victory in a two-plus hour marathon that featured 26 ties and 11 lead changes at the Vuls’ gym.
Stepping out of Pacific West Hawaii pod play for the first time this season, the Vuls saw a nine-match winning streak end, however they bounced back later in the day, winning a five-setter against Chaminade, 25-20, 21-25, 27-25, 22-25, 16-14, to improve to 12-2.
In between, the Silverswords took care of Anchorage in a sweep.
In the first match, All-American Eve Stephens led the Seawolves (10-2) with 21 kills (.340 hitting) and 15 digs, while all-conference outside hitter Bria Beale paced the Vuls with 20 kills (.298) and 18 digs.
“We didn’t execute as well as I would have liked,” coach Chris Leonard said in a school release. “We didn’t serve and pass as well as you need to if you are going to beat a good team like Alaska Anchorage.”
Trailing 14-10 in Game 5, kills by Taira Kaawaloa (seven kills, 14 digs) and Beale, a team block and a Kaawaloa ace tied the match. Anchorage ended it with a Stephens’ kill and a block.
The Vuls made an uncharacteristic 15 service errors, and all three in the fifth set left a mark, though they also posted 14 aces.
UHH scored the last three points to take the fourth set.
“I am happy with the heart that we displayed again in never giving up and battling back,” Leonard said. “We have never quit this spring when we have been down. That’s not easy to do, but we have showed that ability all spring.”
Hilo High alum Mahala Kaapuni, a freshman, matched her career high for the Seawolves with 10 kills, and Hannah Pembroke added 12 kills and nine digs.
The Vuls hit just .164. Alexandria Parisian had nine kills and Ashton Jessee produced eight blocks.
In the nightcap, Beale (17 kills, 19 digs), Parisian (12 kills, 14 digs) and Jessee (11 kills, six blocks) and Kaawaloa (eight kills, 14 digs) put UHH over the top.
Parisian’s kill and the Vuls’ 12th block produced the match’s final two points in a set that the Silverswords once led 10-6.
After 10 sets and around five hours of volleyball, UHH will play just one match Saturday, at 7 p.m. against the Seawolves.