BOX SCORE: Sonoma State 3, Hawai'i Pacific 1
HONOLULU, Hawai'i- Redshirt freshman
Kelsey Hull enjoyed a dominating night, smashing 14 kills and hitting at blazing .433 clip, helping the Sonoma State volleyball team hold off a pesky Hawai'i Pacific team for the 3-1 victory on Friday night in Honolulu. It was the first victory for the Seawolves in 2011, as they move to 1-1 this season. The Sea Warriors fall to 1-2.
It was one of the most thrilling, heart-stopping, exciting, nail-biting match that most in attendance had probably ever seen. Friday night featured 35 ties and 19 lead changes, most of which came in the first two sets. In the first frame alone, the two squads endured 12 ties and six lead changes. Sonoma State scored the first three points of the night, but from then on, neither team lead by more than three scores. It wasn't until the Seawolves finally pulled away late in the opening set that the outcome would become clear. Hawai'i Pacific knotted the set at 18-18, but Sonoma State went on to outscore its opponents 8-2, gliding to the 25-20 win.
The second set became even more nerve-wracking as each team traded points moreso than the first set. 14 ties and eight lead changes later, the Seawolves, thanks to a pair of HPU errors and two service aces by
Nicole Gragnola, earned the 25-22 win and led the match 2-0.
Despite hitting a match-best .345 in the third frame, Sonoma State couldn't overcome the hot hitting of Hawai'i Pacific, as the hosts hit .414 with 14 kills in 29 attacks with just two kills. It would prove to be enough to force another set, although just barely. The Sea Warriors escaped with the 25-22 win in set number three with two clinching points, after the Seawolves came to within one point at 23-22.
Just when it seemed Hawai'i Pacific held the match's momentum, Sonoma State reeled off the first five points of the fourth set to lead 5-0. However, HPU roared right back, scoring seven unanswered points to regain the 7-5 lead. The Sea Warriors would hold on to the lead and even extended it to a late five-point advantage at 17-12. It wouldn't deter the experienced SSU team, though, as it would fight back to knot the set at 19-19 and claim the 21-19 lead a couple of points later. HPU would remain within two points the rest of the way, but the Seawolves held off the Sea Warriors for the match-clinching 25-23 win in set number four.
Hull displayed the most efficient hitting performance since 2009 with a minimum of 30 attacks; she made just one error on Friday night.
Ally Sather led the way with 16 kills, but hit .205 with seven errors in 44 swings.
Keala Peterson matched Hull's kill performance with 14 as the three combined for 44 of Sonoma State's 54 total kills. The Seawolves outhit the host Sea Warriors, .269 to .228.
Hayley Ross had another solid match at the net, passing out a match-high 41 assists and making 12 digs on defense.
Taylor Krenwinkel again held her own on the backline, recording a team-high 15 digs. Gragnola also had double-digit digs with 14 and added five service aces.
For Hawai'i Pacific, Sanoe Recca hammered 16 kills while teammate Kyra Pelayo led all defenders with 32 digs. Natasha Bell also shined for the Sea Warriors, converting six aces from the service line.
Sonoma State will wrap up play at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Invitational in Honolulu on Saturday. The Seawolves will take on Chaminade at 2 p.m. before facing No. 13 Seattle Pacific at 7:30 p.m. -- both times Pacific.
