HONOLULU, Hawaii — The Dominican University of California women's volleyball team was unable to salvage the last match of its three-match trip through Hawaii with a tough 3-2 (25-16, 21-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-8) loss to Hawai'i Pacific University.

The Penguins (3-7/0-4 PacWest) fell behind in the first set and that carried over into the second set as the Sharks (9-3/4-0 PacWest) jumped out to a 10-5 lead. Dominican turned the tables with a six-point run to grab an 11-10 lead. The two teams traded points and Dominican finished set two strong. Tied 21-21, Kate Even recorded one of her six kills to begin a four-point run, and Even ended it with another kill to even the match at one set apiece. The two teams stayed tight throughout set three and Dominican trailed 22-20. The Penguins finished strong yet again with a 5-1 run to narrowly take the third set, 25-23, and go up in the match, 2-1. However, HPU regained the momentum for good in set four. The Sharks grabbed a 9-4 lead and the Penguins would never get any closer. An early 4-1 deficit put Dominican in another hole in the fifth and deciding set and the Penguins pulled within a point, 6-5, but tired in the end and fell 15-8.

Aimee Steinwand led all players with 17 kills for the Penguins. Brittany Latigue added nine kills in the loss. Shannon RiggioKerley added six and Madeline Powelson added five. Hannah Smith dished out 35 assists. Powelson led all players with 17 digs and Steinwand and Amanda Lee each added 14.

The Sharks were led by 14 kills apiece from Elizabeth Culpepper and Kasey Thompson. Pomai Recca added 13. Four Sharks recorded double digit digs, led by Tenika Wentworth's 16.

The Penguins now return to the Bay Area and will head to Oakland, California on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. to face Holy Names. Dominican then returns home to the Conlan Center for a two-match homestand, beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. vs. Academy of Art.