This early in the season, University of Hawaii at Hilo volleyball coach Tino Reyes has different ways to measure success.
He was encouraged by his team’s mettle during Saturday’s five-setter, but the Vulcans couldn’t quite muster a victory.
UH-Hilo fought off three match points in Game 5 before Florida Tech prevailed 19-25, 25-12, 28-26, 14-25, 18-16 in Laie, Oahu.
“A good match to test the team,” Reyes said. “We just need to play a little sharper.”
However, he didn’t see that in the nightcap as the Vulcans (1-2) fell in four sets to Chaminade, 25-21, 16-25, 20-25, 18-25.
The malfunction, Reyes said, was his team’s passing.
“We’re not teaching them the right things and we’re not seeing the right things,” Reyes said. “It falls on me, but it’s fixable.”
In the early match, Marley Strand-Nicolaisen (19 kills, 13 digs) and Morgan Lees (14) led UH-Hilo’s attack, while Kyndra Trevino-Scott added 13.
On 54 swings, Strand-Nicolaisen hit .167.
“We need to spread the ball around a little better,” Reyes said.
The Vulcans didn’t accomplish that feat against the Silverswords. Statistics of the match were not available.
Cross-country
Freshman Anna Mikkelsen finished second at the 5K Big Wave Invitational in Kaneohe, Oahu.
Led by Mikkelsen (19:25.30), the Vulcans were third behind Alaska-Anchorage and BYU-Hawaii.
Helping the Vulcans were Jordan Concannon (27th, 22:40.10), Shelby Tanaka (29th, 23:14.10), Nina Kapuni (31st, 23:32.40), Megan Washburn (32nd, 24:33.50) and Kaylee Rapoza (35th, 42:02.00).