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HONOLULU – The No. 6 University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team handed No. 2 USC its first loss of the season, 26-28, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 20-18 Wednesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH improves to a 7-2, 4-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation record.
 
Senior middle-blocker Taylor Averill (17 kills, seven blocks) took it home for the Rainbow Warriors, throwing down his final kill of the night followed by a solo-block to cap an intense fifth set over the Trojans (7-1, 6-1 MPSF), 20-18. Averill hit at a remarkable .640 (17-1-25), his 17 kills giving him a new career-high.
 
After dropping the first two sets, the Warriors came back full-force for the win, despite being at a disadvantage with key starter Sinisa Zarkovic sitting out. Senior opposite Brook Sedore led the team with a season-high 22 kills and contributed two of UH's season-high eight service aces. Additionally, sophomore Kupono Fey tallied 10 kills, with senior Scott Hartley adding seven kills, three blocks, one service ace, and libero Kolby Kanetake recording 10 digs.
 
The two teams matched stat-for-stat, the 'Bows ultimately outhitting the Trojans, .394 (67-17-127) to .381 (69-21-126) and out-blocking them 24-15. USC out-dug UH just 35-30, and tallied 64 assists with Honolulu-born setter Micah Christenson contributing 63 of them. Christopher Orenic led the Trojans with a match-high 24 kills.
 
UH opened Set 1 with a small lead, until USC scored three unanswered points for a 14-12 advantage. Despite a quick 15-14 comeback by UH, the Trojans refused to back down, eventually taking the lead 23-21. Forced to play catch-up, UH would tie the score four more times before USC dished out three kills in a row to finish the set 28-26.
 
The Trojans quickly set the pace in Set 2 with a 14-12 advantage midway through. Despite four kills in a row by Sedore, USC remained a step ahead of the 'Bows throughout the set, taking it 25-23.
 
In Set 3, Davis Holt stepped onto the court after sitting out the first two and immediately made an impact. The senior remained in the lineup until the end, finishing with four blocks and three kills. Following a 6-3 run ignited by another four kills a row by Sedore, UH footed a commanding 21-17 lead. The Trojans fought back to bring themselves within one-point, 24-23, but fell just short after handing UH the set with a service error.
 
After dominating the fourth set, 25-17, Set 5 was not as easy, with the Trojans untarnished record on the line. The teams rallied back-and-forth, with score tied 10 times before the Warriors reached match-point after a USC attack-error. The relentless Trojans followed with a three-point run to tie it 14-14, and took the lead twice after that but it was UH with the last word as Averill dished out back-to-back points for the 'Bows.  
 
The Rainbow Warriors wrap up the series against the Trojans on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center at 7:00 p.m.