Box Score

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team successfully opened the 2009 season with a 30-27, 30-24, 31-29, victory over 10^th-ranked Ohio State, Thursday, on the opening night of the Outrigger Hotels Invitational. A Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 2,490 watched as the Warriors (1-0) won their season-opener for the first time since 2005.

 

Sophomore Joshua Walker led the Warriors with 17 kills and seven digs. Freshman Steven Hunt, making his collegiate debut, had his first career double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs. Sean Carney ran the UH offense and dished out 37 assists along with seven digs and six blocks. Middle blockers Matt Rawson and Steven Grgas teamed for nine blocks.

 

The Warriors trailed for much of Game 1 and rallied from a late 25-22 deficit by scoring five straight points on a pair of Hunt kills and two Buckeye hitting errors. Walker ended it with his fourth kill of the set.

 

With the match tied at 5 in Game 2, the Warriors used an 11-5 run to jump out to a 16-10 lead. The Buckeyes inched to within three at 24-21 before UH scored three straight to put the set out of reach.

 

In the final game, Hawai'i jumped out to a 15-11 lead at the midway point. The Buckeyes fought back to tie it at 17 and went ahead 23-22. OSU led by as many as 26-23 before the Warriors tied it at 27. Carney's block gave UH match point at 29-28 and moments later the Buckeyes hit long giving the Warriors a 31-29 victory.

 

In the opening match of the tournament, the defending national champion Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0) needed all five sets to defeat No. 7 Southern California, 27-30, 30-23, 30-19, 29-31, 15-12. Will Price led the way with 22 kills on 50 percent hitting while Ryan Sweitzer added 18 kills, six digs, and four blocks. Troy Murphy led the Trojans (0-1) with 20 kills.

 

The tournament continues with Day 2 of the Outrigger Invitational, Friday. Penn State and Ohio State play at 4:00 p.m. followed by UH and USC at 7:00 p.m.