Box Score
Photo Gallery

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team made its return to the Stan Sheriff Center a successful one with a 25-19, 25-20, 25-20 victory over Pepperdine Friday in the first of two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

In their first home match in three weeks, the Warriors (7-9, 5-6 MPSF) had a relatively easy time against the ninth-ranked Waves (6-8, 4-8). UH's trio of outside hitters – Jonas Umlauft (15), Joshua Walker (15), and Steven Hunt (8) – combined for 38 of the team's 43 kills and hit .460.

 

In contrast, three Wave attackers hit .000 and as a team, Pepperdine hit .158. Its top hitter, Maurice Torres was pulled after the second set, with six kills and six errors in 13 swings. Cory Riecks had four kills and four errors in 13 swings.

 

Playing without an injured Brennon Dyer, the team's leader in hitting percentage and blocks, the Warriors jumped all over the Waves in the opening set. Following a 6-1 run, UH led 12-8 and extended its lead to as much as seven at 20-13.

 

Down 10-7 in Set 2, the Warriors mounted a rally with four straight points and led 18-14 following consecutive kills by Umlauft and a kill by Jarrod Lofy. Hawai'i managed to trade side-outs the rest of the way en route to the 25-20 victory.

 

Pepperdine (6-8, 4-8) led for the better half of Set 3 until the Warriors scored five of six points, with the help of consecutive blocks by Lofy, for a 19-16 lead. The Waves never threatened and UH's big three each pounded a kill down the stretch to give the Warriors the win.

 

UH's middle blockers Lofy and Shane Welch combined for nine blocks. As a team, UH hit .382 and out-blocked the Waves, 10-to-6.

 

The teams play again Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center. First serve is 7:00 p.m.