Box Score

HONOLULU – In its 50^th anniversary season, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team posted a monumental 500^th all-time victory after beating UC Santa Barbara, 30-25, 30-23, 30-23 Friday night in the second of two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

The Warriors (4-11, 3-9 MPSF) avenged Thursday's four-set loss to the 14^th-ranked Gauchos and snapped their five-match losing streak. Since becoming a varsity sport in 1979, UH has an all-time record of 500-276.

 

For the second straight night, Joshua Walker led the Warrior attack with 17 kills. Steven Grgas and Sean Carney finished with 10 kills each. Grgas and Matt Rawson also had seven blocks a piece. Libero Ric Cervantes had a team-high 11 digs.

 

Jeff Menzel was the lone Gaucho in double figures with 21 kills.

 

After a slow start to Set 1, the Warriors came on fire at the midway point, reeling off five straight during an 8-1 run for a 20-15 lead. The Gauchos closed to within 21-19 but three straight errors and five Warriors points later, the deficit was 25-19. UH won 30-25 and Walker led the way with six kills.

 

The Warriors stormed out to a 9-4 lead in Set 2. Moments later, the lead was 15-7 and the Warriors were never threatened the rest of the way en route to a 30-23 win.

 

After a 13-all tie, the Warriors took control of Set 3 by scoring four straight points with the help of three Gaucho hitting errors. UH extended its lead to 26-19 with another four-point spurt and finished the game with kills by Grgas, Walker, and Carney.

 

UH will next hit the road for a two-match MPSF series at UC San Diego, March 13 and 14.