SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team rebounded from Friday's disappointing loss at Holy Names University with a four-set win at Dominican University of California on Saturday.
The Silverswords got a season-high 15 kills and a .370 hitting percentage from freshman
Kira Long and another 14 kills from
Cassie Rushlow in Chaminade's 25-18, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22 Pacific West Conference victory played at the Conlon Center.
The 'Swords (10-7 overall, 3-4 PacWest) wrapped up their Northern California road trip by winning 2-of-3 matches, giving them their first double-digit win season since 2008.
"We knew that after last night's loss, we had business to take care of, so we came into the game focused, composed and confident," Silverswords head coach
Kahala Kabalis Hoke said. "We were able to showcase our depth and abilities as a team."
Suncica Bakic added nine kills and four service aces for Chaminade while
Reigna Johnson tallied eight putdowns and four combined blocks for the 'Swords.
Ku`ulei Lynch added four combined blocks while
Valentina Bevilacqua notched her sixth double-double of the season with 30 assists and 14 digs.
Natashya Enos also picked up 14 digs.
Aimee Steinward lead the Penguins (2-13, 0-7 PacWest) with a match-high 18 kills in defeat.
The first set was anyone's to win with Chaminade holding to a 17-15 lead. But Bevilacqua got a kill and ace, while Rushlow, Bakic and Johnson each found the DUC side of the floor as well as another ace from
Athena Maskarich to lead the Silverswords on an 8-4 run to close the set.
Despite being out-hit in Set 2, .212-.049, the 'Swords still had a chance to go up 2-oh. But Chaminade couldn't close out a 23-21 lead as the Penguins scored the set's final four points to square the match.
The Silverswords responded in the third by racing out to a 20-9 advantage. Rushlow hammered down three kills during a 7-0 surge to help put the 'Swords up 2-1 while hitting .333 in the set.
Early on with the fourth set tied at 4, Bakic served up six straight points, including three service aces during the run, giving Chaminade an 11-4 lead. The Silverswords built the advantage to 20-11, but Dominican rallied back, closing to within 24-22, staving off three aloha balls. Rushlow would finally end it with a kill to give Chaminade its fourth road win of the season.
Despite being out-blocked, 12-8, and out-hit percentage-wise, .236-.221, the 'Swords had more kills (51-45), assists (45-44) and digs (55-48). Chaminade also had 10 aces to the Penguins' three.
The 'Swords return home Sunday, but will play away from McCabe Gym for a fourth consecutive match when they face Hawai'i Pacific University at St. Andrew's Priory Gym next Friday at 7 p.m.
