Box score (PDF)
 
POMONA, Calif. – The Seattle Pacific Falcons did the things they needed to give themselves a chance.
 
But in crunch time on Friday, that chance ultimately slipped away.
 
Up 23-19 in the fourth game and in position to force a deciding fifth, SPU saw Hawaii Hilo score seven of the final eight points and close out a victory in the D2 West Region Showcase volleyball tournament.
 
Scores in Kellogg Arena at Cal Poly Pomona were 25-16, 27-29, 25-20, 26-24.
 
"They just put a few plays together when we were ahead, and we lost the lead," SPU head coach Abbie Wright said. "Every team we've lost to this year has been good, but it's not that we haven't had an opportunity. It's just putting those pieces together, and that takes time. It's our team realizing that we're really capable."
 
Junior outside hitter / opposite Maddie Batiste put a career-high 20 kills onto the floor for the Falcons (2-5). That eclipsed her previous best of 14, which she had reached four times – twice this year, including Thursday night's match against Cal State Monterey Bay. She also had 16 digs for her sixth double-double in seven matches.
 
 

Senior outside hitter Gabby Oddo added 14 kills, and sophomore outside Erin Gould hammered a career-high 11, her first time in double-digits.
 
"Our upperclassmen stepped up big-time. It's a big growing experience and they're growing more consistent," Wright said. "And Erin stayed aggressive right to the end. She really found the court; she tipped at the right moments and went for it at the right moments."

 
FORGING IN FRONT
Down two games to one in the match and 10-7 in Game 4, the Falcons put together a 6-0 run, with freshman Paige Dawson serving the last five of those. Hawaii Hilo climbed back in, and the teams were tied at 18-18 when SPU put five of the next six points on the board. That included a string of three in a row – a service error by the Vulcans, a kill by Gould, and a Vulcans attack error – to go up 23-19.
 
Hilo had four straight to get even at 23-23. A kill by Gould gave the Falcons an opportunity at game point – but that was their final point. The Vulcans had back-to-back kills, and then a tip on match point to finish it.
 
Pacific West Conference member Hilo (4-2) bolted to a 5-1 lead in the opening game, never letting the Falcons find their rhythm. Seattle Pacific built an 18-12 lead in Game 2, but that melted away, and the Vulcans had game-point tries at 26-25 and 27-26.
 
The Falcons save both of them. Then at 27-27, a tip by Gould and a kill by Oddo helped them level the match at one game apiece.
 
Hawaii Hilo scored three straight point to snap a 4-4 tie in Game 3 and led that one the rest of the way.

"Everyone is rallying around and figuring it out," Wright said. "It's frustrating when things don't fall our way. But it's about staying positive and staying resilient in these times."
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-- After hitting just .075 in the opening game, Seattle Pacific finished at .194, thanks in large part to a .259 percentage in Game 2 and .278 in Game 3. Hilo finished at .269, with a .344 mark in the opener and .200-plus in the next three.
 

-- Senior setter Taylor Alicuben got her most extensive SPU playing time ever. She made the most of it with her first double-double as a Falcon, racking up 32 assists and 10 digs. Alicuben – who just happens to be a native of Hilo – joined the program last year after playing previously at Highline Community College. However, she saw action in just one set in 2018.
-- Gabby Oddo hit the big 4-0 for career double-doubles. She had a season-high 16 digs to go along with her 14 kills. She has four double-doubles for the season.
-- Senior libero Mallie Donohoe had a season-high 16 digs. That pushed her past 600 for her career, now with 611.
-- Freshman middle blocker Delaney Dunham tied her career high with five block assists.
--Prior to Maddie Batiste's 20 kills on Friday, SPU's season high had been 17 by Oddo in a five-gamer against Concordia Irvine last Friday in San Diego.
 
UP NEXT
Seattle Pacific concludes the tournament and preseason play on Saturday against Chaminade at 2:30 p.m. The Falcons are looking to turn the tables on the Silverswords, who have won the last three matches between the teams.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
D2 West Region Showcase
Friday, Sept. 13, 2019
Kellogg Arena / Pomona, Calif.
 
Hawaii Hilo 3, Seattle Pacific 1
 
Game scores – 25-16, 27-29, 25-20, 26-24.
 
Service aces – UHH 3 (3 player with 1), SPU 8 (Oddo 3).
Kills – UHH 61 (Beale 19), SPU 58 (Batiste 20, Oddo 14, Gould 11).
Assists – UHH 58 (Kott 52), SPU 58 (Alicuben 32).
Digs – UHH 81 (Beale 23, Lizama 23), SPU 69 (Oddo 16, Donohoe 16, Batiste 15, Alicuben 10).
Block assists / solo – UHH 22 / 0 solo (Wade 6 / 0 solo), SPU 18 / 0 solo (Dunham 5 / 0 solo).
Hitting (kills-errors-attacks) – UHH 61-18-160—.269 (Wade 13-3-24—.417), SPU 58-23-180—.194 (Dunham 5-2-14—.214, Batiste 20-10-47—.213).
Attendance – 56.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 2-5.   Hawaii Hilo 4-2.
  
Next match
Seattle Pacific vs. Chaminade
Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Kellogg Arena / Pomona, Calif.