The Hawaii volleyball team wasted little time in wasting Pacific 25-21, 25-22, 25-19 Saturday night in Stockton, Calif.
It took 91 minutes for the Warriors to complete the two-match sweep and improve to 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
The Warriors lead the series 40-1, having won 31 in a row since 1997. They have won 16 straight in Stockton.
Left-side hitter Steven Hunt apparently conquered the flu-like symptoms that limited his practice time during this road trip. Hunt finished with a match-high 14 kills on 35 swings.
Hunt received outside help. Taylor Averill cemented his job as the starting opposite attacker by smacking 10 kills and amassing four blocks. Averill also expanded the Warriors’ attack when he put down two kills on D sets from the back right.
J.P. Marks, the second left-side hitter, was so-so with his attacks. But after the Tigers had closed to 21-19 in the third set, Marks soared to hit a line shot over a double block on the left.
Marks then served the final three UH points.
"He struggled a little bit with his offense, but he did well at the service line and he was digging some balls," coach Charlie Wade said.
The Warriors appeared to know the Tigers’ every move, which was not surprising because UH assistant coach Jeff Hall was once Pacific’s primary recruiter.
The Warriors had to win the final three sets to rally for a five-set victory Friday.
"We absolutely talked beforehand about starting the way we ended," Wade said. "We felt we were in control of the match (on Friday), not just tactically but emotionally in the end of (sets) four and five. If we came out with that kind of intensity and focus, would they respond? The guys did a really nice job of sticking together."