FULLERTON – Hope International welcomed in one of the top teams in the GSAC on Saturday at Darling Pavilion, and held its own in a four-set loss to Arizona Christian.

The Firestorm rebounded from a first set loss to earn the 23-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-12 victory. ACU improved to 13-6 overall and 9-2 in the GSAC. The Royals lost their fourth straight match in dropping to 6-9 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

Olivia Samaniego led the Royals with nine kills on .304 hitting. Manaia Mamea chipped in eight kills and 11 digs.

Annie Nugent led the HIU backrow with 13 digs. Macy Thornburg fired off four service aces, and Rita Nua had a team-high 13 assists.

Haley Tedrow led the Firestorm with 17 kills and Zuri Reeser added 13.

HIU went on a 5-0 run to open up a 9-4 lead in set one as Thornburg was solid at the service line. Leading 12-7, the Royals saw the Firestorm reel off four straight points to whittle the deficit to one.

The lead remained between one and three points until HIU notched three straight to create a 20-16 lead. Kat Schwab had a solo block on Tedrow to help the HIU cause.

HIU clung to a 21-20 advantage, but two straight ACU errors opened up a three-point lead for the home team. Savannah Salter ended the set with a smash for the 25-23 HIU victory.

The Royals overcame a 7-2 deficit in set one, scoring four straight points to pull within one. HIU still trailed by just one, 15-14, when ACU scored three straight to create a four-point cushion. The Royals remained behind by four, 22-18, and scored back-to-back points to creep within 22-20. But the Firestorm closed out the set.

ACU used a 6-1 run to create a 16-10 lead in set three. The Royals chipped away and trailed just 21-18, but the Firestorm scored four of the final five points.

The fourth set witnessed 12 consecutive points from the Firestorm, as they opened up a commanding 13-1 lead en route to the 25-12 triumph.

HIU heads out on the road to tangle with Benedictine Mesa on Wednesday, October 15 at 1:00 p.m.