HONOLULU – Extra sets weren't required on Sunday night.
After playing overtime the last four home matches, the Chaminade University women's volleyball team worked quickly and efficiently in a 25-13, 25-17, 25-23 sweep over Dominican University of California at McCabe Gym.
Cassie Rushlow had a match-high 16 kills while hitting at a .433 clip as the Silverswords (12-12 overall, 5-9 Pacific West Conference) had their highest team hitting percentage since Sept. 13, hitting .283 on the night.
Suncica Bakic added 10 kills while
Madalene Barrett had nine and a season-high five combined blocks, one solo and four assisted.
Valentina Bevilacqua had 36 assists, the most in a three-set match this season.
Athena Maskarich had 13 digs with Bakic adding six. Bevilacqua,
Natashya Enos and
Kawai Oleole had five digs apiece.
Aimee Steinwand led Dominican (5-18, 3-12) with 11 kills.
Chaminade began the match quickly, jumping out to a 14-4 lead with
Reigna Johnson putting down three of her of seven kills on the night during the sequence. The 'Swords didn't let up as freshman
Cassidy Acord tallied two of her season-high three kills of the night down the stretch as the Silverswords won Set 1 in convincing fashion, holding the Penguins to a -.038 attack percentage while hitting .364 themselves.
The second set was more of the same as Rushlow and Bakic combined for seven kills during Chaminade's 17-8 lead. A 7-1 Dominican run closed the gap to 18-15, but successful attacks from Rushlow,
Catherine Thomason, Acord and Barrett helped the 'Swords up their lead to 24-17.
Ku`ulei Lynch and Barrett then combined to stuff Madeline Powelson to end the set and go up, 2-0.
The 'Swords appeared to be on their way for another easy set win as they held a 9-3 lead in Set 3. But the Penguins dug deep, eventually forcing a 17-all tie. Dominican then ran off the next four points to take a 21-17 lead and another extra-setter loomed on the horizon. But Chaminade wasn't about to be denied as Bakic and Rushlow each hammered down two kills and a Steinwand attack error gave the 'Swords the lead back at 22-17. DUC then scored the next two points to take back the advantage, but kills from Johnson and Bakic set up aloha ball. The Penguins then committed a hitting error, giving the match to Chaminade in straight sets.
The Silverswords led in nearly every statistical category, except service aces, in which each team had three. Chaminade also out-blocked Dominican, 8-4. The Penguins came into the match as the PacWest's top blocking team at 2.12 per set.
The 'Swords will conclude their seven-match home stand on Thursday against Academy of Art with live streaming audio coverage on GoSwords.com.
