Although the lady Seasiders' volleyball season came to an end sooner than they would have liked against Dixie St., the team finished their regular season home finale with a bang. The BYU-Hawaii Lady Seasiders came out firing at this year’s senior night game vs. in-state rival Hawaii Pacific University jumping out the a 6-3 lead and never looked back as they swept HPU 3-0. It was the last home game for several BYUH seniors and others who are leaving the team. “It is bittersweet playing in my last game here at BYU-Hawaii,” said Stella Chen, a senior social work major from Hong Kong. “I am sad to leave this school but excited to be moving on.” Seniors Ho’onani Apo and Ariel Hsu and sophomores Noel Pauga Wolman and Janelle Fink were also honored at senior night. In the first set, the Lady Seasiders would continue their run taking the first match 25-12. Ariel Hsu would finish the first match with the hot hand recording four kills. The second set started out with teams trading points as neither team could separate from the other until a small run by the Lady Seasiders to take an 11-6 lead. The Lady Seasiders would go on to protect their lead and take the second set 25-19. Chen would finish the set with five kills and five digs.The third set was an even battle between HPU and BYUH as the two teams were tied up at 7 apiece. BYUH would continue to battle winning a long rally to bring the game to a 11-11 tie. BYUH would continue to battle back and regain the lead 20-18. A service error by HPU would give the Lady Seasiders the 23-20 lead as they Lady Seasiders looked to seal the match. A solo block by Chen would close the set and the match 25-23, as the Lady Seasiders swept HPU 3-0. Chen finished the night leading the Lady Seasiders in both kills (13) and digs (16) recording her 16th double-double this season. With the win the Lady Seasiders clinched the PacWest conference championship for the fifth straight year and an invitation to the NCAA Regional tournament. “We are really exciting and confident going into the regional tournament, a lot of the girls have been there before and are hungry to win the national championship this year,” said Assistant Coach Jay Akoi. After the match volleyball player Ariel Hsu was proposed to by her boyfriend, Ethan Tsai. Tsai walked in to the band playing Bruno Mars, “Just the Way You Are,” and a group of well-dressed friends walked in a ring-shaped balloon array. Amidst a throng of onlookers, Tsai got one knee and asked Ariel Hsu to marry him. She agreed and they plan to get married this coming summer.
Writer: Homer Wolman~Multimedia Journalist
