HILO, Hawaii – The opening match of the 2018 season did not go the way the Saints wanted it to, falling in three sets to host school Hawaii Hilo 25-19, 25-16, 25-18 to open the First Hawaiian Bank Volleyball Tournament.
 
The Saints' (0-1) 21 errors and .067 attack percentage resulted in SMU unable to find their rhythm on the offensive in the first match of the year. The Vulcans (1-0) connected for 14 more kills and connected for an attacking percentage of .233 percent.
 
The Vulcans began the first set with an 8-4 lead but a kill from Kallie Langford and errors by Hilo kept the Saints within three points. However, the Vulcans managed to open up a 19-12 lead after a quick 5-1 run. The Saints were able to close the gap to two after another kill by Langford and a service ace by Emily Gooding, but it would not be enough as SMU fell 25-19.
 
In the second set, the score was tied at 7-7 after kills from Rachel Gondrezick and Langford led the attack. Later in the set, kills by Megan Vernoy and Ililani Kamaka kept the Saints within one at 12-11. Hawaii Hilo closed the set on a 13-5 run to secure the second set victory.
 
The Vulcans once again jumped out to an early lead in the final set, 8-3, capitalizing on four Saints' attack errors. SMU was never able to dig themselves out of the hole, and a 7-1 run by UHH sealed the 25-18 set.
 
"Give Hilo credit," said head coach Jon Killingbeck. "They played a well-rounded game and earned the victory. We did some good things but our offense did not perform well enough."
 
Vernoy led the team with 10 kills, followed by Gondrezick's eight and Langford's five. Courtney Misner recorded a team high 14 digs, along with Hannah McKee adding 10 digs and assists. Alyssa Bartlett managed a team high 14 assists.