OAKLAND, Calif. – On Thursday, the Chaminade University women's volleyball had to rally from a 0-2 deficit to beat Notre Dame de Namur. On Friday, the Silverswords had the tables turned on them.
Chaminade could not hold on to a 2-0 lead, dropping a disappointing five-set decision to Holy Names University at Tobin Gym, 16-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-17, 15-13. The win was the Hawks' first of the season, improving them to 1-13 overall and 1-7 in the Pacific West Conference, avenging a non-conference loss to Chaminade in Oakland last month. Friday's conference match will be the only one between the two teams this season.
For the second straight match,
Cassie Rushlow set a career-high, putting down 17 kills to lead Chaminade (9-7, 2-4).
Madalene Barrett contributed with 12.
Reigna Johnson had eight while
Ku`ulei Lynch put down six. Johnson also had four blocks.
Jeanette Van Sickle had nine kills for a balanced attack as three other Hawks had seven kills or more. Siera Taylor had six combined blocks.
Valentina Bevilacqua had 28 assists with
Ka Ua Cale getting 18. Four 'Swords had double-digits digs, led by
Athena Maskarich's 22. Bevilacqua had 14 while
Natashya Enos and Barrett had 10. Maskarich and Cale also had four service aces each.
After dispatching Holy Names easily in the first set, the 'Swords were able to hold off the Hawks down the stretch as Lynch and Rushlow put down successful back-to-back attacks to break a tied game late in the second to grab a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, the Hawks ran off eight straight points midway through to take the set, their first of the season after 41 tries.
The 'Swords appeared to take control of the fourth set for a match winner as they jumped out to a 13-8 lead. But Paige Madkin got three kills to key a crucial 7-0 Hawks' run to give them a 15-13 lead. HNU would continue to add on and after the smoke cleared, the Hawks outscored Chaminade 17-5 to force a decisive fifth set.
In the fifth, Holy Names benefitted from three Silversword hitting and reception errors during a 5-0 run to take a 10-4 lead. The 'Swords, down 10-14 and playing in desperation mode, got two Rushlow kills and forced a hitting error to close the gap to 13-14, but Kaylyn Lackey completed the comeback to give the Hawks the W.
Despite leading in kills and assists, the Hawks out-blocked the 'Swords, 12-4, out-dug them, 75-74. Holy Names also had 10 service aces to Chaminade's nine. But seven of the Hawks' aces came in Sets 3-5, while the 'Swords, among the national leaders in aces, had only one during the same span.
The Silverswords conclude the road trip on Saturday when they face Dominican University of California at 4 p.m. HST.
