The Dixie State University volleyball team went to Hawaii for a three- game road trip to face conference foes, but left feeling disappointed and dissatisfied.
Heading into the games in Hawaii, DSU was riding a nine-game winning streak. The Trailblazers extended the streak to 10 games when they beat BYU-Hawaii in a five set match Friday, but lost the final two games of the trip to Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
DSU and BYU-H traded sets back and forth heading into the fifth and decisive set. The Trailblazers found a way to hold off the Seasiders on the road.
“It was not pretty, but we battled,” head coach Robyn Felder said. “At the end of the day, we got the win and we are happy about that.”
With the win, DSU matched its school record with 10 straight wins.
DSU then took on HPU Saturday. The Sharks ended the Trailblazers winning streak and DSU fell in four games.
DSU cruised by HPU in the first set, 25-14, but could not maintain momentum as the Sharks stormed back to take the final three sets.
“I think we fought really hard and played with heart,” said senior setter Kailey Frei, an elementary education major from Orem. “They just played better. We need to be better and not let this setback defeat us.”
The final game of the trip was against UHH. The road struggles continued for DSU as they again fell in four games to the Vulcans in a rematch from earlier in the season, a game which DSU had won at home.
“We just could not get momentum and did not play to our potential against [UHH],” said junior right-side hitter Brette Anderson, a business administration major from Prescott, Arizona. “Overall, we wanted to go to Hawaii and be undefeated, but we are excited to go back home and get our confidence and rhythm back.”
At 12-6 overall and 8-2 in Pacific West Conference play, DSU will host California Baptist University Saturday at 6 p.m.
