Box Score
HONOLULU – One night after winning in straight sets, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team lost in three to UC San Diego, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22, Friday night in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation rematch at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Warriors (1-1, 1-1 MPSF) hit .156 as a team and tallied six team blocks compared to 11 in the opener. UCSD (1-1, 1-1 MPSF) hit .333 rebounding from a dismal .000 one night earlier. The Tritons also put up 10 blocks and had five service aces.
Senior outside hitter
Steven Hunt had a team-high 13 kills and was the only Warrior with more than five. UC Irvine transfer
Taylor Averill had five kills in five swings in his UH debut. Middle blocker
Jarrod Lofy had five blocks.
Carl Eberts had a match-high 14 kills and hit .478 for the Tritons, who've now won four times in 47 all-time matches against Hawai'i. Johl Awerkamp had eight kills and Greg Smith posted seven blocks.
The Tritons came out firing in the opening set jumping out to an 11-6 lead. UCSD led by as much as six until the Warriors inched their way back to within a 16-13 deficit. But the Tritons maintained their lead and ended the set with a Mike Brunsting dump shot.
In Set 2, the Tritons surged ahead 12-9 after blocking
Steven Hunt on consecutive plays. UCSD led at the midway point 15-13 before the Warriors tied it at 17. The teams traded side-outs until the Tritons scored consecutive points for a 22-20 lead. After an Averill kill, the UCSD scored the set's final three points capped by a hitting error by
Nick West.
UH scored the first three points and led 6-3 early in Set 3 but the Tritons rallied to take a 10-9 lead. The teams traded sideouts until UCSD scored three straight for an 18-15 lead. The Tritons managed to hold onto their comfortable lead until Sebastian Brady's kill ended it on match point.
The Warriors will next host the 18
th Outrigger Hotels Volleyball Invitational Thursday through Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
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