Box Score HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team continued their impressive beginning to the season Saturday night at McCabe Gym after defeating Hawai'i-Hilo in the finale of the East-West Challenge, 21-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-18.
At 4-0, it matches their best start since 2007.
Like their win over Daemen College earlier on Saturday, the Silverswords got a balanced attack as five players tallied eight or more kills, led by sophomore
Cassie Rushlow's 14 kills.
Madalene Barrett contributed with 11, followed by
Kira Long's nine while
Ku`ulei Lynch and
Reigna Johnson had eight each.
UH-Hilo (1-2) was paced by Marley Strand-Nicolaisen's 15 kills and Morgan Lees' 11.
The 'Swords also proved formidable at the net, out-blocking the Vulcans, 13-4. Johnson tallied seven total blocks (five assisted) while Lynch had five total.
Junior setter
Valentina Bevilacqua nearly had a double-double as she dished out 42 assists with nine digs. The 'Swords also demonstrated crisp passing with
Waihilo Chartrand's match-high 16 digs while
Athena Maskarich had 13 and Rushlow with six.
Chaminade led in nearly every statistical category including kills (56-43), percentage (.261-.135), service aces (6-3), assists (54-39) and digs (63-50).
After dropping the first set and locked in a 9-all tie in the second,
Suncica Bakic gave Chaminade the lead at 10-9, then defensive specialist
Darcie Horiuchi ran off eight consecutive points at the service line to help the Silverswords pull away to even the match.
In Set 3, the score was again deadlocked at 9, but a 5-0 Chaminade run put the 'Swords ahead for good as they took a 2-1 advantage.
The fourth set saw the Vulcans forge a 10-10 tie, but the 'Swords ran off seven of the next eight points to put the match away.
Chaminade will look to remain unbeaten next week as they hit the road for the first time when the team plays in the PacWest/GNAC Crossover tournament at Dominican University of California. The Silverswords will play twice on Thursday, opening with Western Oregon followed by Montana State-Billings. The team will also play two non-tournament matches while on the Mainland against PacWest foe Holy Names (Friday) in a non-conference tilt as well as Mills College on Saturday.
