BOX SCORE

HONOLULU, HI — The Dominican University of California women's volleyball team looked poised to win its first Pacific West Conference match on Saturday night but Hawai'i Pacific University rallied back from a 2-0 defecit to defeat the Lady Penguins in five sets, 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 17-25, 11-15, on Saturday night.

Dominican (4-18/0-9) built an early lead thanks to the strong service of Brooke Swingle, whose seven straight serves gave Dominican an early 8-3 advantage. HPU (10-9/7-3) pulled within a point but Dominican managed to fend off the Sea Warriors en route to the 25-22 win.

The second set was close throughout, with the two teams remaining within two points until HPU took an 18-15 lead. Dominican caught up at 21-21 and a Swingle service ace clinched set two 25-23 for the Lady Penguins.

Dominican stood just two points away from their first match win with a 23-22 lead in set three but a Shawntell Jones kill for HPU tied things up at 23. Two straight Dominican errors sent the match to a fourth set.

HPU jumped to a 7-2 lead in set four, cruising to a 25-17 victory to even the match and force a decisive fifth set.

The final set saw Dominincan trailing 12-8 but service aces by Gabby Pecora and Tianna Tuatagaloa brought the Lady Penguins within two at 13-11. Another Jones kill for HPU gave the Sea Warriors match point and Sanoe Recca closed the match out for HPU with one of her ten kills.

Pecora led all players with 20 kills. Tuatagaloa and Cayla Morphew each added 12 kills in the loss. LaShelle Rullan was one of four Dominican players with double digit digs and led all players with 27. Swingle dished out 43 assists and placed four of Dominican's 11 service aces.

Kelly Balanay led HPU with 20 kills.

The Lady Penguins travel to Hilo on Saturday to face first-place University of Hawai'i at Hilo. Match time is set for 5:30/8:30 Pacific.