HILO — Vulcans extended their win streak to eight games as UH-Hilo Women’s Volleyball swept inter-island foe HPU (25-20, 25-19, 25-21) in Pacific West Conference action Monday night at the Vulcan Gymnasium.
UH-Hilo posted a season-high .343 hitting percentage as Isabella Freeman (seven kills) and Raelee Samio (nine kills) finished above .500 with Chase Koepke (.429), Taylor Tullo (.316) and Samara Cruz (.304) not far behind in positive numbers.
UH-Hilo moved to 8-1 in the PacWest (13-6 overall) while HPU moved to a 1-8 conference record (1-14 overall).
The Vulcans will hop over to O’ahu this weekend for matchups with No. 10 Chaminade (Oct. 19) and HPU (Oct. 20).
UH-Hilo will then return for a four-game home stand, hosting Concordia (Oct. 24), Point Loma (Oct. 26), Jessup (Oct. 30) and Fresno Pacific (Nov. 2).
Oct. 24’s matchup with Concordia will be Think Pink Night with fans encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. Fans will receive free entry for arriving in pink attire.
At the end of the month, fans are encouraged to participate in our Halloween Costume Contest on Wednesday, Oct. 30, against Jessup.
With the win, UH-Hilo earned two points in the volleyball section of the PacWest Hawai’i Challenge, a competition in 10 sports between the three Division-II schools in Hawai’i.
Monday night’s game day sponsor was Backyard Monkey as attending fans were treated with trivia questions and prizes.
Women’s soccer moves to No. 19
UH-Hilo women’s soccer moved up four spots to No. 19 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25 National Rankings released Tuesday morning.
The Vulcans were victorious over Jessup in a 3-0 shutout last week. UH-Hilo also moved up one spot to No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches West Region Rankings.
Colorado School of Mines (11-0-1) remained atop the top 25 poll.
Hoke named Defender of the Week
UH-Hilo women’s volleyball extended its win streak to seven in a row with two victories last week, earning Pacific West Conference Team of the Week recognition as announced Monday afternoon.
Fifth-year senior libero Tani Hoke was also named PacWest Defender of the Week.
The program’s all-time career digs leader recorded 27 digs in a five-set victory over Azusa Pacific (Oct. 10) and 15 digs in a sweep of Biola (Oct. 12) — averaging 5.25 digs per set.
“It was just focusing on what we can do as a team and working together as a unit,” Hoke said. “Just working to do my job to contribute and set up our setters and hitters with the best opportunities to score.”
The Vulcans have been on a seven-game win streak through the early stages of the conference season, currently holding the No. 3 spot in the standings.
Men’s golf victorious
Kevin Yamashita shot two-under to claim victory in leading UH-Hilo men’s golf to a team win this past weekend at the Hawai’i Triangular at the Hawai’i Triangular at the Waikoloa Resort and Mauna Lani Resort.
Yamashita shot two-under on Day 1 before finishing even to wrap up play at the top spot. Dysen Park followed three shots behind for a runner-up finish. Ben Crinella finished at a tie for third at six-plus.
The Vulcans shot rounds of plus-eight and plus-five for a 13-over final tally, cruising far ahead of both Chaminade and HPU with plus-39 scores each.
UH-Hilo will be back in action next week in hosting the annual Dennis Rose Intercollegiate, Oct. 21-22, at The Village Course at Waikoloa.
Vulcans will then close the fall slate with the HPU Sharks Shootout, Oct. 25-26, back at the Mauna Lani Resort North Course.
Women’s golf
edges HPU
One shot was all the difference in a tight race to the finish as UH-Hilo women’s golf edged HPU this past weekend at the Hawai’i Triangular at the Waikoloa Resort and Mauna Lani Resort.
Kiersten Saludares claimed the individual win with a 12-plus finish, narrowly topping Elle Otani by one shot. Trinity Ledgerwood followed closely behind at plus-17 for a tie at No. 4.
The Vulcans finished the first round three shots behind the Sharks, but all HPU golfers posted double-digit scores on Day 2. Saludares and Otani both shot a 78 second round.
UH-Hilo will be back in action next week in hosting the annual Dennis Rose Intercollegiate, Oct. 21-22, at The Village Course at Waikoloa.
Vulcans will then close the fall slate with the HPU Sharks Shootout, Oct. 25-26, back at the Mauna Lani Resort North Course.
