Aug. 28, 2009

Box Score

Hilo, HI - The Adelphi University volleyball team opened up the 2009 season in Hawaii against Hawaii-Hilo on Thursday, August 27. The Panthers found themselves down 2-1, dropping two straight games, but rallied to force a deciding fifth game before falling 3-2. The loss drops Adelphi to 0-1, while Hawaii-Hilo opens the season with a win, 1-0.

The first game was tight throughout, as no one could claim more then a three point edge, until an Audrey Goss kill and a Hawaii-Hilo attack error moved Adelphi's cushion to five points, 21-16. That margin would prove to be enough as the Panthers took game one, 25-18.

Game two saw Adelphi move out to a 10-7 lead on another Hilo attack error, but the host school would rally, using a 11-5 run that gave Hilo a 18-15 lead on the way to a 25-22 win. Adelphi continued to play catch-up for most of the third game, holding leads of 5-4 and 21-20 before falling 25-23.

The fourth game was a back and forth contest as the Panther opened with three straight kills from Heather Mau, Kelsey Hackett and Emily Dorko to take an early 3-0 lead. Hilo would counter, claiming a 11-9 edge, before two Hilo errors another Dorko kill, along with two Goss kills moved the Panthers in front, 14-11 on the way to a 25-18 win.

Hilo just out lasted the Panthers in the fifth game, jumping out to a quick 5-1 lead and then pushing that margin to 10-5 before collecting the game and match with a 15-9 win.

Both Dorko and Pavels posted a game-high 14 kills, while Mau chipped in 42 assists. Amy Williams led all players with 15 digs, while Pavels added 14 digs and Hackett contributed nine total blocks.

Adelphi returns to action on August 28 when they are hosted by Chaminade in Hawaii.