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Senior opposite Brook Sedore put down a season-high 22 kills and senior middle Taylor Averill tied his career high with 17 kills with just one hitting error as No. 6 Hawaii handed No. 2 USC its first loss, 26-28, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 20-18, Wednesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Sophomore hitter Kupono Fey had a career high 10 kills for the Rainbow Warriors (7-2, 4-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation).
Sophomore hitter Christopher Orenic had a match-high 24 kills for the Trojans (7-1, 6-1). Senior setter Micah Christentson, a Kamehameha product, finished with 63 assists and two aces.
Averill had just one hitting error, that coming in Set 5 when USC took a 1-0 lead. Hawaii rallied to lead at 14-12.
The Trojans tied it at 14 and the match was tied at 15, 16, 17 and 18. Averill’s last kill gave Hawaii would be its last match point at 19-18 and the All-American stuffed Robert Feathers to end it after 2 hours and 48 minutes.
Hawaii was without junior hitter Siki Zarkovic, the team kill-leader with 3.79 kills per set. He was sidelined with an ankle injury.
The Warriors outblocked the Trojans 12.5-8.5, with Averill in on seven. UH also had a season-high eight aces, two each by Sedore and sophomore setter Jennings Franciscovic.
The teams meet again Friday at 7 p.m at the Sheriff Center.
