SAN RAFAEL — The Dominican University of California women's volleyball team was outscored by five points on Monday night but it was just enough of an edge for Hawai'i Hilo to earn a 3-1 (25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23) upset over the Penguins.

Hawaii Hilo (10-14/8-11 PacWest) relied on the hitting of Marley Strand-Nicolaisen. The conference's third-highest hitter tallied a match-high 21 kills. Despite Strand-Nicolaisen's highlight-reel performance, the Penguins recorded more kills, a higher hitting percentage, more assists, more service aces, more digs, and more blocks that the Vulcans.

A 7-0 run in set one gave UHH a 13-8 advantage, though the Penguins rallied back to take a 15-14 lead thanks to a 7-1 run of their own. A Kate Even kill gave the Penguins a 23-21 advantage but the Vulcans scored the next four points for the early lead. Dominican fell behind 7-3 in set two but climbed back into the set to take a 21-20 lead. UHH responded yet again with a 5-0 run to close out the second set. Set three appeared to be more of the same after Dominican went down 6-2 early. Dominican chipped away and Aimee Steinwand secured her 20th double-double of the season with a kill that forced a fourth set. The Penguins led 22-21 in set four but the Vulcans went on another late run, 4-1, to earn the upset.

Steinwand finished with a team-high 12 kills, and added 13 digs. Madeline Powelson recorded a double-double as well with 10 kills and 17 digs. Sophomore middle blockers Even and Brittany Latigue each added 10 kills in the match. Senior setter Hannah Smith had 47 assists and made it a double-double with a career-high 10 kills. She just missed a triple-double with eight digs. Senior libero Amanda Lee had a season-high 37 digs, two short of her career-high.

Dominican's four seniors — Lee, Powelson, Rebecca Schira, and Smith — were honored in a pregame ceremony for their contributions to the program. All four are career leaders in the Division II era in one category or another. With two matches remaining, Powelson also moved into a tie for the career lead for matches played (106) in the Division II era.

With Hawai'i Pacific (16-11/12-6) winning on Monday, the Penguins (16-10/12-6 PacWest) moved into a tie for third place with the Sharks.  Dominican wraps up the season on the road with matches at Azusa Pacific on Friday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. and at Concordia on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m.