Oct. 26, 2004
BILLINGS , MT - The first place Chaminade University women's volleyball team moved one match closer to clinching a share of the PacWest Conference volleyball title Monday night, defeating MSU-Billings 3-1. The No. 25-ranked Silverswords improved to 14-3 overall and 8-1 in the PacWest. The Yellowjackets fell to 11-9, 3-5.
MSU-Billings led 6-5 in the first game before the Swords rallied to take a 13-9 lead. The Yellowjackets hit .389 for the game but couldn't catch Chaminade who won 30-28. The Yellowjackets captured the momentum early in the second game, jumping to a 6-0 advantage, and cruising to a 30-24 win to tie the match at 1-1.
The Jackets' momentum was short-lived, however, as the Silverswords exploded to a 23-9 lead in the third game. Kahala Kabalis pounded out five of her match-high 25 kills in the first 15 points of the third game to power the Chaminade attack. The Yellowjackets couldn't cut the lead to less than 10 for the rest of the game and eventually lost 30-19.
MSU-Billings seemed poised to force a fifth game, leading 22-21 in game four. Three straight points gave the Swords a lead they would not relinquish en route to a 30-27 win to close the match.
Kabalis finished with a double-double, adding 14 digs to her 25 kills. Valasi Sepulona knocked down 15 kills and added 18 digs despite not playing in game one. Marijana Stanic finished with 14 kills and five blocks. The Silverswords out-blocked the Yellowjackets 10-6 in the match.
The Yellowjackets were led by 15 kills apiece from Olivia Munro and Jessica Bratton. Munro also picked up a match-high 20 digs.
The Silverswords and Yellowjackets meet again at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday night at Alterowitz Gym. The match will be a non-conference Pacific Region match.
