Seasiders Drop Close Match

Hilo, HI–The Brigham Young University Hawaii women’s volleyball team battled undefeated and nationally-ranked UH-Hilo to a virtual standstill in three straight games but came up short each time as they fell to the 25th-ranked Vulcans 25-22, 25-23, 25-23 tonight on the road.  The match was the Pacific West Conference opener for the Seasiders.

The Seasiders held a 22-21 lead in each of the first two games but each time the Vulcans managed to come back for the win.  UH-Hilo led 24-20 in game three before the Seasiders’ Tanza Buroker smashed a kill and then assisted in a pair of blocks to pull BYU–Hawaii within one.  But once again, the Vulcans responded and claimed the 3-0 win.

Tara Huckvale led the BYU–Hawaii attack with seven kills and no errors for a .538 hitting percentage.  She also added three blocks for her night’s work.  Kylee Nawahine also put down seven kills for the Seasiders while Ane Vea knocked down six.  Buroker and Losaline Faka’osi each notched five kills in the balanced BYU–Hawaii attack and Buroker finished with a match-high six blocks.  Nobuko Kotoyori led the Seasiders in digs with seven.

Josimara Pinheiro had 14 kills and seven digs to lead UH-Hilo, now 12-0 for the season and 2-0 in the PacWest, while Fabiane Seben had 12 kills in the win.

BYU–Hawaii, now 3-7 for the season and 0-1 in the conference, will face Chaminade on Thursday at 7:30 pm in Laie in another Pacific West Conference match.

Box Score