HONOLULU, Hawaii. – The Central Washington University volleyball team (2-2) opened the first day of the Aloha State Showdown with a tough 0-3 loss to Hawaii Hilo (5-3).
 
Quoting Head Coach Mario Andaya
"Definitely a step off, a step slow, a bit uncertain in our purpose. Not going to be successful in the win column if we can't get kills. All that said Hilo played very well. Great defense and physical players that stayed after us and didn't let up. They were the better team on the court today and deserved to win."
 
How It Happened
The Wildcats found themselves down early in the first set and competed well in the second and third sets. However, Hawaii Hilo showed heavy pressure and continued to build momentum in key moments that ultimately allowed for the Vulcans success on the court. Ellie Marble and Kailey Willsey led the 'Cats in kills with five each, followed by Kaitlyn Leaverton with four. Kayleigh-Shay Chang led in assists with 10 and service aces with three. Hayli Tri led the team at the net with five blocks, while Marble led in digs with 10, followed by Brooklyn Parker with nine.
 
The Vulcans opened the scoring with a 3-0 run to take the early lead. Central answered but it appeared that UH Hilo had the momentum–scoring multiple points compared to single points for CWU. The Vulcans continued to hold on the Wildcats–holding a 16-10 lead at one point. However, the 'Cats would pick up some momentum–scoring five straight points to cut the lead to one. The teams became neck-and-neck with Hawaii Hilo holding the narrow lead. The Crimson and Black stayed in the fight towards the end but UH Hilo found the right moments to pull away as they defeated CWU 25-22 to take set one.
 
Set two began with both teams playing competitively for the first few points, before UH Hilo went on a five-point run to lead 8-3. Central answered with two points to cut the lead to three, but the Vulcans flipped the moment with two more points of their own. The teams traded a pair of points each before Hawaii Hilo found another stride to build its lead to six. Once again, CWU broke the stride with a pair of points, that was answered by three points by the Vulcans as they led 17-10. The teams traded the next two points each before Central called a timeout. Following the timeout, the Vulcans got a point before the Wildcats answered with two. UH Hilo responded with four straight points to force set point at 24-14. The 'Cats got one more point, but the Vulcans closed out the set with a kill from Malu Garcia to win set two 25-15 and put Central in a 0-2 deficit.
 
The Wildcats opened the third set with a service ace from Chang. UH Hilo answered with two points that CWU got right back with a kill from Marble and a service error. Both teams battled for the lead as the game became neck-and-neck. Central got a small edge–leading 12-10, but the Vulcans responded with a 4-1 run to take a 14-13 lead. The 'Cats tied it up with a kill from Leaverton, as the teams traded points and the lead. UH Hilo caught a stride and scored five straight points to lead 19-15. CWU chipped away at the lead as the Vulcans remained out of reach as the Wildcats called a timeout with UH Hilo leading 23-20. The timeout proved well for the Crimson and Black–getting a kill from Corinne Westby to make it 21-23, but Hawaii Hilo answered with a kill from Alohi Garcia to force match point at 24-21, and a block from Isabella Hadaller on the following play gave UH Hilo the win and the sweep over Central.
 
Up Next
The Crimson and Black head over to McCabe Gymnasium at Chaminade University for a double-feature–taking on Florida Tech at 3:00 p.m. PDT and then taking on #24 Chaminade at 8:00 p.m. PDT.