HONOLULU – The Chaminade women's volleyball team got a match-high 15 kills from
Cassie Rushlow while
Suncica Bakic added 14 as the Silverswords ended a three-match losing streak, sweeping the University of Hawai'i-Hilo, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18, in a Pacific West Conference match Saturday at McCabe Gym.
The 'Swords picked up their first conference win of the season to improve to 8-6 overall and 1-3 in the PacWest. The Vulcans fell to 3-4 and 2-2. Chaminade also avenged a loss to UH-Hilo when it was swept on the Big Island last Saturday, to win the series, 2-1.
Rushlow and Bakic were efficient, hitting for a combined .375 in the match. Rushlow also accounted for three block assists.
Athena Maskarich had a season-best 21 digs after an injury forced her to don the libero jersey for the first time this season.
The 'Swords were also effective at the service line. After committing a season-high 17 service errors on Friday against Hawai'i Pacific, they made only four on Saturday. Chaminade, which came into the weekend ranked 11
th nationally in aces, got eight, three each from
Valentina Bevilacqua and
Natashya Enos.
Bevilacqua also accounted for 18 assists and eight digs. Chaminade had the advantage in kills (44-35), hitting percentage (.211-.160), assists (42-34), total blocks (5-3) and digs (62-52).
Morgan Lees led UH-Hilo with seven kills.
The 'Swords will hit the Mainland for a second time this season on a three-match road trip, starting Thursday at Notre Dame de Namur.
