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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team was extended to the limit in a five-set victory over Grand Canyon Friday in a non-conference match at the Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 25-27, 25-16, 25-21, 25-27, 15-12, in the first-ever meeting between the schools.
 
UH snapped its four-match losing streak with the victory over the 'Lopes, who compete in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.
 
Senior outside hitter Steven Hunt led the Warriors (3-5) with a season-high 23 kills on 56 kill attempts along with five digs and four blocks. Middle blocker Nick West added a career-high 13 kills and five blocks.
 
Outside hitter Taylor Averill and Brook Sedore also chipped in with 11 kills a piece. Libero Nick Castello recorded a career-high 22 digs. As a team, the Warriors hit .257 compared to .230 for the 'Lopes.
 
Grand Canyon (5-4) was led by Ben Ponnet's 23 kills while Jordan Tarantino added 21 kills.
 
In Set 1, the Warriors rallied from a 9-7 deficit by scoring four straight for an 11-9 lead. UH extended its lead to 18-15 after a Hunt service ace. The teams traded side-outs until the 'Lopes tied it at 23 with a three-point spurt.
 
The Lopes staved off two set points until closing out the game with a pair of kills by Tarantino and a hitting error by JP Marks.
 
UH jumped out to a 15-10 lead midway through Set 2 and never looked back in a 25-16 victory.
 
The Warriors jumped out to 6-1 and 10-3 leads in Set 3. The 'Lopes tied it at 13 as the 'Lopes used an 8-1 run – with the help of four Warrior hitting errors – before Sedore's kill gave UH the lead back. Moments later with reserve setter Dominic Lile back to serve, the Warriors scored four straight points for a 21-16 lead. Sedore ended it at 25-21 with his fifth kill of the set.
 
In Set 4, the Warriors led 7-3 before the 'Lopes tied it at 9 after blocking Averill on back-to-back points.  UH regrouped and took a 15-12 lead and led 19-16 before the 'Lopes scored five of the next six points for a 21-20 lead.
 
The Warriors scored back-to-back points on kills by Sedore and Hunt for their first match point. The 'Lopes stuffed Sedore on UH's first match point and Ponnet put away a kill on UH's second chance. Grand Canyon went on to steal the set on consecutive points in which Sedore hit the antenna and Keith Smith's kill.
 
In the fifth set, the 'Lopes got off to a 4-2 lead. The Warriors rallied and led 8-6 on the switch of sides before Grand Canyon tied it at 9. After a GCU service error, West and Hunt teamed up for a big block for a 12-10 lead. Two points later, West gave UH match point and Tarantino hit into the net ending the match.
 
The teams play again Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.