HONOLULU, Hawaii -The 14th-ranked UC San Diego men's volleyball team was tied with 4th-ranked Hawaii toward the end of each set, but the Warriors came out on top each time in a 30-28, 30-28, 30-27 sweep in front of 4,382 fans at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. UCSD grabbed the lead four times in both the first and second sets but could not hold on as Hawaii defeated UCSD for the 39th time in 41 all-time meetings. With the loss, UC San Diego drops to 8-17, 4-14 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while Hawaii improves to 17-8, 13-7 MPSF.
UCSD was led by Frank Fritsch, Carl Eberts and Jason Spangler with 11 kills apiece. Adrian Guthals added nine kills against just one error and a .500 hitting percentage. Phil Bannan had 39 assists as UCSD hit at a .274 clip. Guthals and Calvin Ross led UCSD with six blocks apiece.
Hawaii hit at a .273 clip and was led by Joshua Walker with 17 kills while Jonas Umlauft tallied 15 kills.
The Tritons forced the Warriors to call an early timeout in the first set, as UCSD grabbed a 10-4 lead. UCSD held that lead until UH tied the set at 15-15. UCSD retook a 19-17 lead after an Eberts kill and Fritsch service ace. UH went ahead 26-24, but two UH errors retied the set. Tied at 28-28, a UCSD service error and attack error gave the Warriors the 30-28 win.
In the second set, UCSD led 17-14 after two Spangler kills and an Eberts kill. The Tritons led 24-21 after a Ross block, but UH quickly came back to tie the set at 25-25. A Fritsch kill and UH error put UCSD back on top 27-25, and later 28-26. A Hawaii ace and block swung the momentum and a UCSD attack error enabled UH to escape with a 30-28 second set win.
In the third set, the Tritons scored six of the first seven points. UCSD led 21-18 after a Guthals kill. UH tied the set at 22-22 and the score would later be tied at 26-26 after a Fritsch kill. After a UCSD service error, the Warriors recorded points on consecutive blocks to put the set and match out of reach at 30-27.
UCSD returns home next week when it faces UC Irvine on Friday night in RIMAC Arena. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
