The undefeated HPU Lady Sea Warriors volleyball team began defending the PacWest Conference on Sept. 7-8, by defeating University of Hawai‘i-Hilo on both nights. With the victories HPU is 8-0, and 2-0 in league play. At one point in the second game of the first match, the Sea Warriors found themselves down 7-12, after Ann Haggerty of the Vulcans served up four straight aces.

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After a timeout, HPU responded with a 7-1 scoring frenzy of their own to take the lead, in a set which they won, 30-28.

“I think it was extremely important that we battled back. It showed us that when we’re down in the trenches, we never say die. We can always dig ourselves out,” said Tita Ahuna, who won coach of the year last year.

Two players who helped dig the Lady Sea Warriors out were seniors Roberta Robert, “the Brazilian connection,” and Andrea Wean. They combined for 70 of the team's 119 kills over the two days. Wean lead the first game in kills with 17, then followed that up with a new career high, 20, which earned her Player of the Week for the PacWest Conference. Wean currently leads the conference in attack percentage (.438). She’s second in blocks per game (1.15) and third in kills per game (4.59).

Joining Wean and Robert as key seniors on this years squad is two-time All-American, Nia Tuitele, who tallied up 85 assists against the Vulcans, two shy of 4,000 for her career at HPU.

Ahuna was pleased with how her team performed in the conference openers against the Vulcans, but she still thinks the team is playing inconstantly at times. She also pointed out that they give up too many points in spurts, but one thing that she is proud of is that they never say die. “The way we fought back shows a lot of character, and a-never-say-die attitude, and that’s heart. Heart comes from within, and the girls showed a lot of it,” said Ahuna.

Despite their two losses, the Lady Vulcans pushed the Sea Warriors to the limit. “I was really proud at what we did as a team against HPU, but HPU is tough. They’re a very tough club mentally, they’ve been there, they’ve been in tough competitions. They know how to stay calm, they’re in control,” said Sharon Peterson.

Peterson, who is in her 24th season at the helm of the Lady Vulcans is nearing a milestone in her glorious career, 500 victories. “Sharon Peterson is simply an awesome coach,” said Ahuna, who has 119 career victories in her six years at HPU. The Lady Sea Warriors have won 36 straight matches, closing in on the NCAA II record of 46, set by Ferris State in 1984.

Volleyball team four-time HSC tournament champs by Kalamalama staff With three straight Hawaiian Style Classic championships, it was no surprise when the Lady Sea Warriors won their fourth HSC title by defeating BYU-Hawai‘i in four sets in Hilo,on Sept.1. Helping the Sea Warriors capture the title was senior All-American setter Nia Tuitele, a four-time selection to the all-tournament team. She was named the MVP of the tournament for the second time. Tuitele has also earned all-tourney honors four years in a row. Tuitele had 251 assists, 50 digs, 31 kills, and 14 blocks during the five-match-tournament, and was named Pacific West Conference player of the week. Joining Tuitele on the all-tournament team was senior Roberta Robert, her second straight appearance on the tournament team. Robert led the team in kills over the five matches with 76, followed by another senior, Andrea Wean, with 70. In the title game against BYU-H, Wean led the team with 16 kills, and also had 14 digs and five blocks. Robert recorded 12 kills, 13 digs, and three blocks, while sophomore Teisa Fotu chipped in with 10 kills, 13 digs, and six blocks. Tuitele led the team in assists with 45 while she also added 14 digs and five blocks. To get to the title game the Sea Warriors swept past UH-Hilo in an earlier match to set the meeting between BYU-H. HPU has won the last six meeting against BYU-H, however BYU-H still holds a 72-17 edge in the all time series record.