Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. – Despite explosive performances by its outside hitters, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team surrendered late leads in a four-set loss to UC Irvine, Tuesday, in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at the Bren Events Center. Set scores were 27-25, 20-25, 25-23, 28-26.

 

One night earlier it was the Anteaters (10-8, 7-5 MPSF) whose big three outside hitter combined for 57 kills on .434 hitting in a four-set win. But on Tuesday, UH's Jonas Umlauft (25 kills), Steven Hunt (16), and Joshua Walker (14) combined for 55 of the team's 64 kills and hit an amazing .511 with only seven errors in 94 swings.

 

However, the Warriors (6-9, 4-6) blew leads in all three sets they lost. In Set 1, UH led 24-22 and lost the lead after UCI's Jeremy Dejno served consecutive aces which propelled the Anteaters to a 27-25 victory.

 

After tying the match with a Set 2 victory, the Warriors jumped all over UCI in the third set, leading 22-15. However, the Anteaters rallied with Anthony Spittle at the service line bringing UCI to within 22-21. Umlauft's kill ended the 6-0 run but the Anteaters finished the set with four straight points with Jordan DuFault at the service line.

 

Hawai'i again surrendered a late lead in Set 4. After an Umlauft kill gave UH a 21-17 lead, the Anteaters tied it with a four-point run. A Walker block and Umlauft kill gave UH set point a 24-22 but UCI tied it with an ace by DuFault. Cory Yoder got hot late with three straight kills to end it.

 

Umlauft finished the match with a match-high 25 kills, with only two errors in 40 attempts for a .575 hitting percentage. Hunt slammed 16 kills with only three errors in 25 attempts while Walker had 14 kills and only two errors in 29 attempts.

 

The Warriors return to Honolulu for a pair of MPSF series with Pepperdine (March 4-5) and Pacific (March 11-12).