Box Score

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2011 collegiate season with a thrilling five-set win over top-ranked USC, Friday night in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at the Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 22-25, 25-22, 15-25, 25-20, 15-10.

 

The Warriors (15-11, 13-8 MPSF), who were previously 0-4 in five-set matches this season, handed the Trojans just their second loss in 20 matches. It is also marked the second time in as many seasons that UH defeated USC while the Trojans were ranked No. 1. Last season, the Warriors won in four in the championship match of the Outrigger Hotels Invitational.

 

UH was led by All-American opposite Jonas Umlauft, who tallied a match-high 26 kills on .388 hitting. Outside hitter Joshua Walker, who got off to a torrid start by committing only his first hitting error on his 24^th attempt, finished with 19 kills on .289 hitting. Outside hitter Steven Hunt added 12 kills and six digs on .400 hitting.

 

In the race to 15 fifth set, the Warriors ended the match with deadly Nejc Zemljak at the service line. The Slovenian who is playing in his final home matches of his career, went back to serve after Umlauft's kill gave UH an 11-10 lead. His off-speed and screamer serves kept the Trojans off-balance and led to four-straight points, including Walker's solo block of Murphy Troy on match point.

 

Troy led the Trojans (18-2, 17-2) with 17 kills while middle blocker Steven Shandrick added 14 kills on .765 hitting. USC out-hit UH, .383-.338.

 

In Set 1, the Trojans got off to an 8-4 lead and extended it to 12-6 following an ace by Tony Ciarelli. Down 17-10, the Warriors rallied with four straight points and got within 22-20 before the Trojans closed out the set with kills by Ciarelli and Troy.

 

The Warriors stuck right with USC for much of the set, even taking a 19-17 lead after back-to-back double blocks by Walker and Welch. An overpass kill by Hunt and Walker ace gave UH a 22-18 lead. Umlauft ended it with back-to-back kills for even the match at one set a piece.

 

In the third set, the Trojans jumped all over the Warriors, taking a 12-7 lead. After two more UH unforced errors, USC led 17-11. USC rolled the rest of the way in a 25-15 rout.

 

Hawai'i would not go down easily, taking an 8-4 lead to start Set 4. At the media timeout, the lead was 15-9 after a crushing kill by Hunt in the chest of Troy. USC rallied by running off five straight points to pull within one at 16-15. But with Zemljak at the service line, the Warriors answered with four straight for a 21-16 lead.

 

The teams play again Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Following the match, Walker, Zemljak, and Brennon Dyer will be honored during the traditional Senior Night ceremony.