IRVINE, Calif. – Manaia Mamea secured her first career double-double with 14 kills and 19 digs, and the Hope International women's volleyball team earned a five-set comeback victory against Westcliff on Wednesday at the Momentous Sports Center.
The Royals fell behind two sets to one, but won the final two sets to emerge with the 16-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12 victory.
Mamea also chipped in four service aces.
HIU got progressively better throughout the match after hitting -.033 and -.031 over the first two sets, respectively. HIU improved to .263 in set three and hit an outstanding .333 (11-1-30) in the winner-take-all fifth frame.
Savannah Salter posted nine kills and four block assists, and Lauren Cummings contributed seven kills and a match-best seven blocks to aid the Royal cause.
Alyssa Bishop and Rita Nua shared setting duties and produced assist totals of 20 and 18, respectively.
Annie Nugent tied Mamea for top marks in the digs category with 19.
In set one, Westcliff opened up a 10-2 lead. But the Royals scored nine of the next 13 points to cut the deficit to 14-11. The Warriors responded with a 5-0 run to widen the margin to eight. Four straight HIU attack errors closed out the 25-16 victory for the Warriors.
HIU took its first lead of the contest by scoring the first point of set two on a Madison Schweitzer kill. Westcliff led 7-5, but HIU quickly turned the tables – utilizing a 6-0 run for the 11-7 lead behind three Mamea service aces.
The run eventually became 16-3 as HIU found momentum. Cummings got involved with a block and a pair of kills. The Warriors went on a mini run to close within 22-15, but the Royals took the 25-18 triumph.
HIU lost a tough 25-23 third set. The team trailed throughout the entirety of the set, but chipped away gradually to have a chance. Westcliff led 12-6 and 16-8, but two kills from Olivia Samaniego got the Royals within 18-14. Salter knocked down a kill, and a pair of Warrior attack errors pulled HIU even closer at 19-17.
With Westcliff up 23-19, the Royals scored three straight points to whittle the deficit to 23-22. A Stacy Folas kill got the Warriors to set point, but a service error brought HIU within 24-23. Folas stopped the comeback with a set-clinching putaway.
Westcliff positioned itself to close out the match by taking an early 5-1 edge in set four. But the Royals roared back with a 6-1 run to grab a one-point lead. The teams battled through 11 ties – the final one at 18-18 – when HIU kicked it into high gear.
HIU ended the set on a 7-1 run with Salter producing a pair of kills. Vianka Martinez and Olivia Zawalick also combined for a crucial block assist.
Set five was a back-and-forth affair with neither team building a lead bigger than two. That is, until match point when Martinez's kill gave the Royals the 15-12 win. Mamea had four big kills, and HIU finished the match with a 4-1 run.
HIU turns its attention to the beginning of GSAC play, which begins on Friday, September 12 at OUAZ. First serve is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
