Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. - The University of Hawai`i men's volleyball team squandered a two games to none lead in a 26-30, 27-30, 30-23, 30-22, 15-11 loss to third-seeded UC Irvine, in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament quarterfinals, Saturday night, at a sold-out Crawford Court.

The sixth-seeded Warriors (13-14) saw their 10-match win streak come to an end and finish with a losing record for the first time since 1992. The Anteaters (25-5) advance to the MPSF Tournament semifinals where they will face second seeded Brigham Young.

Senior Lauri Hakala led the Warriors with 25 kills along with 10 digs while Matthew Vanzant added 17 kills. Dio Dante was in on 11 of the team's 14 blocks.

UH, which had never finished with a losing record under head coach Mike Wilton, came out firing in the first two games. The Warriors took advantage of 10 Anteater service errors in game one for a 30-26 victory.

Hawai'i took a 2-0 lead after a 30-27 game two win and had visions of a three-game sweep after taking a brief 17-16 lead in game three. But the Anteaters rallied back and never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.

UCI took game three 30-23 and stormed out to a 15-9 lead in game four en route to a 30-22 win.

In the fifth and deciding game, the Anteaters scored the first four points and pushed their lead to 8-2 following consecutive David Smith kills. UH pulled within three at 13-10 following a double block by Dio Dante and Brian Beckwith. But the Anteaters put the finishing touches on its two game rally with Smith's dink.

Jayson Jablonsky led the Anteaters with 23 kills and three service aces. Matt Weber had 18 kills and nine digs while Smith finished with 16 kills and four blocks.

Hakala, Dante and fellow seniors Brian Beckwith and Eric Kalima played their final match for the Warriors. Beckwith finished third all-time in school history in assists while Dante ranks third in total blocks.

-UH-