Sept. 6, 2003
Honolulu, HI - In their first match of the day Chaminade played a rematch of their 2002 NCAA tournament game, when they took on UC-San Diego today at McCabe Gym. The Tritons, currently ranked #2 nationally, won the match 3-1 behind at .262 hitting percentage, 66 kills and 79 digs.
The Tritons got off to an early start, winning the first two games, 30-26 and 30-25.
Game three looked like more of the same as UCSD jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a Kahala Kabalis kill put CU on the scoreboard. The two teams remained within 2-points of each other until CU went on the attack and rattled off seven of the next eight points to take game three 30-22.
The momentum swing for the Swords was short lived as the Tritons' balanced attack closed out the match with a 30-19 win in game four.
For the Swords, freshman Patti Hardimon knocked down 16 kills on 31 attacks for a .419 hitting percentage. Kahala Kabalis and Valasi Sepulona combined for 35 kills and Michelle Norman dished out 50 assists. The loss takes CU to 3-4 on the season.
The second game of the day had the Swords looking for their first home win versus St. Mary's of Texas. CU came out strong from the opening whistle and blanked the Rattlers 3-0 (30-22, 30-27, 30-24), hitting .214 to St. Mary's .175 hitting percentage. With the win, the Swords improve to 4-4 and the Rattlers drop to 1-5 on the season.
Outside hitters Valasi Sepulona, Kahala Kabalis and Patti Hardimon combined for 41 of CU's 49 kills on the match. Junior setter Michelle Norman handed out 39 assists, four more than the entire St. Mary's team.
The Swords return to action in McCabe Gym on September 19th at 7:30 PM versus Hawaii-Hilo. The game marks the beginning of Pacific West Conference play.
