Jan. 31, 2010

Final Stats

Honolulu, Hawaii – It was a repeat performance as Hawaii held off UC Irvine, 3-2 (30-26, 32-30, 26-30, 20-30, 15-11) in a three-hour plus marathon at the Stan Sheriff Center.

For the second consecutive night, Hawaii would win the first two sets only to watch UCI battle back to win the next two, but fall in the fifth.

Hawaii used a balanced attack getting kills from Joshua Walker (22), Jonas Umlauft (21), Matt Rawson (12) and Steven Hunt (10).Rawson also led the team with seven total blocks. Ric Cervantes had 14 digs, while Nejc Zemljak totaled 60 set assists and 11 digs.

Carson Clark and Jordan DuFault each posted 21 kills with DuFault also leading the team in digs (13) and total blocks (6). Connor Hughes recorded 12 kills in two sets, while middle blocker Austin D’Amore recorded 10 kills without committing an error in 15 swings (.667). Outside hitter Cory Yoder (.545) and middle blocker Kevin Wynne (.750) were also error free each recording six kills off the bench. Libero Will Montgomery recorded a career-high 11 digs.  Junior setter Anthony Spittle tallied 69 set assists and 10 digs.

The Anteaters out-hit (.356-.237), out-blocked (15.5-12.0) and out-dug (55-50) Hawaii. UCI committed 25 service errors while the Warriors only had 12.

UCI led 10-5 in the first set only to watch Hawaii go on a 6-1 run to tie the game at 11-11. The Warriors trailed 22-21 before scoring four straight to take the 25-22 advantage. That was all the cushion Hawaii would need as they won the set 30-26. The Anteaters out-hit UH (.469-.459), but had eight service errors to Hawaii’s three. Freshman Connor Hughes recorded six of UCI’s 18 kills. There were 11 ties and five lead changes throughout the set.

The Anteaters jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the second set on a pair of kills by Hughes and a pair of aces by Carson Clark. Hawaii would score seven unanswered to go ahead 15-12. UCI would close to 20-19 on a block by Anthony Spittle and Bryan Simmons, but Hawaii would answer with three of their own to open the gap to 23-19. UCI would rally after trailing 27-23 to tie the score at 27-27 on two kills from Clark, one from Dufault and a triple block by Hughes, Clark and Austin D’Amore. Hawaii would use a kill by Joshua Walker followed by a block to reach set point, 29-27. A Walker service error and a Hawaii attack error tied the set at 29-29. The teams traded points before a Hawaii block was followed by a kill by Jonas Umlauft to give the Warriors the 32-30 victory.

UCI once again started with a lead (4-1) but Hawaii would eventually rally, scoring four straight points to take a 13-12 lead. The teams were knotted at 18-18 when Hawaii rejected two consecutive UCI attacks to give the Warriors the 20-18 cushion. A kill by Kevin Wynne was followed by a solo block by Jordan DuFault and two kills by Carson Clark to give UCI the 22-20 advantage. Back-to-back Hawaii attack errors pushed the gap to 24-20 and UCI would finish the set 30-26.

The fourth set was all UCI as the Anteaters cruised to the 30-20 victory.

Hawaii used back-to-back kills by Umlauft and Walker followed by a Umlauft service ace to give Hawaii the 7-4 lead and the Warriors would never trail again as they won the match with a 15-11 fifth set victory. Walker would record six kills in the final set.

Hawaii improves to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the MPSF. UCI falls to 5-6 on the year and 1-5 in league action, dropping the last four MPSF contests.

The Anteaters return home to host BYU Thursday and Friday (Feb. 4 & 5) at the Bren Center. Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m.