Box Score

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team picked up a crucial four-set victory over No. 5 Long Beach State, Friday, in the first of two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches at Walter Pyramid. Set scores were 25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23.

 

The victory was UH's fifth straight, its longest win streak since 2007, and coupled with Brigham Young's loss to Cal State Northridge, moved Hawai'i ahead of Long Beach State for a tie with BYU for third place in the MPSF standings.

 

The Warriors (11-9, 9-6 MPSF) were led by All-American opposite Jonas Umlauft, who had a match-high 22 kills. Outside hitter Joshua Walker slammed 16 kills on .364 hitting while Steven Hunt added 11 kills, six digs, and six blocks. Freshman middle blocker Shane Welch had a career-high 10 blocks.

 

Jim Baughman led the 49ers (19-0, 8-6) with 16 kills while Taylor Crabb, a Punahou School alum, added 15 kills and eight digs.

 

UH jumped out to a one set to none lead with a surge late in Set 1. With the score tied at 19, Walker and Umlauft went back-to-back with kills for a two-point cushion. After a kill by Baughman, Walker slammed one of his four kills in the set and Hunt and Shane Welch teamed to stuff Baughman for a 23-20 lead. Umlauft ended the set with back-to-back kills.

 

LBSU returned the favor in Set 2. With the score tied at 19, the 49ers scored the next four points capped by consecutive kills by Hemmerling. Taylor Crabb, a Punahou School alum, slammed a kill to end it a 25-21.

 

The Warriors held a lead for much of Set 3, even taking a 17-12 advantage before the Beach reeled off six straight for a 22-20 lead. UH responded with kills by Hunt and Walker. After Umlauft hit long, he redeemed himself with his 16^th kill and Welch and Hunt teamed to block Baughman giving the Warriors set point. Hunt closed out the set with his eighth kill.

 

The Beach jumped out to a 9-6 lead in Set 4 before the Warriors rallied with four straight for a 15-14 advantage at the media timeout. The teams traded points until Hawai'i scored back-to-back-to-back points off of kills by Walker and Umlauft and an ace by Zemljak, UH's first of the match, for a 22-19 lead. But just as fast, the Beach tied it with three straight of its own. Umlauft gave UH match point with his 22^nd kill and Hunt and Welch teamed to block Baughman to end the match.

 

The team play again Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PT (4:00 p.m. HT) at the Walter Pyramid. The match can be heard live on ESPN 1420AM with Blaine Kauwe calling the action.