HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team put up a battle for the ages Thursday with three sets being decided by extra points and also rallying from a two-set deficit. But they couldn't complete the comeback in the end, falling to Academy of Art, 29-31, 18-25, 28-26, 29-27, 15-7, in a match that lasted 2 hours and 32 minutes.
The Silverswords (12-13 overall, 5-10 Pacific West Conference) had a well-balanced attack with three players with double-digit kills, led by
Suncica Bakic's 11.
Ku`ulei Lynch and
Kira Long had 10 while
Reigna Johnson and
Madalene Barrett had nine each.
Melissa Brum and Emily Papale combined for 38 kills for the Urban Knights (11-11, 6-8) with Brum putting down a match-high 21.
Senior
Ka Ua Cale came off the bench for the 'Swords and registered 33 assists, a season-high and the most since her freshman season when she dished out 40 at Dixie State. Meanwhile
Athena Maskarich established a new career-high with 32 digs.
Johnson piled up eight blocks, all assisted, which was one shy of her career-best set against Dixie State during her freshman year. Bakic also had 11 digs, which gave the junior her first double-double of the season and four services aces, which tied her season high.
The 111 total points scored by Chaminade in the match are most since November 5, 2010 when they put up 113, also against Academy of Art at McCabe Gym.
In the first set, the 'Swords jumped out to a 16-9 advantage, but ART U rallied to tie it at 17 and eventually took the lead. Chaminade staved off four set points before falling, 31-29.
After dropping the second set, the Silverswords came out swinging as
Kaya Chong served six straight points to open the third. The feisty Urban Knights crawled back and eventually was at the line serving match point. But two Bakic kills followed by one from Lynch sent the match into extra sets.
The outlook appeared bleak for the 'Swords as they trailed, 12-4, in Set 4. An 8-1 run put them right back into the set with the help of three aces, two from Bakic. ART U managed to swing the lead back to its side, but Chaminade managed to brush away two match points. Bakic then put down an attack and Papale's hitting error would force a winner-take-all fifth set.
However the Silverswords could not sustain the momentum in the fifth, dropping the decisive set.
Despite the loss, the 'Swords set new season-highs with 88 digs and 22 block assists. Their 12 total blocks is one short of the season best of 13 against Hawai'i-Hilo on Sept. 6. They also piled up 11 service aces, tied for their second-most this season.
The 'Swords will embark on a four-match road trip starting Tuesday at Azusa Pacific.
