HONOLULU – In the first meeting of the year between the Chaminade University and Azusa Pacific women's volleyball teams, the Silverswords celebrated their first-ever win at the Felix Event Center in four sets.
But in Friday's rematch, the Cougars exacted their revenge.
Azusa Pacific outlasted Chaminade in a rough-and-tumble five-set match at McCabe Gym, 25-23, 21-25, 25-14, 20-25, 15-13.
The Cougars improved to 11-9 overall and 7-4 in the Pacific West Conference. Despite the loss which dropped the Silverswords (13-5, 6-4) two spots down in the conference standings to eighth place, they still remain in the hunt for a regional ranking as only 1 1/2 games separate them from co-second-place holders, BYU-Hawai'i and Dixie State, which swept Holy Names earlier in the day.
Keani Passi led Chaminade with 19 kills, five total blocks and a pair of service aces.
Kim Spring put down 12 kills, nine digs and two aces while
Suncica Bakic contributed with a season-best 10 kills along with six digs.
The Silverswords also amassed a season-high with 16 total team blocks, which surpassed their previous high of 14 which came against APU in the first meeting. It is the most total team blocks since prior to the 2005 season.
Reigna Johnson and
Daisia LaBrie each had eight total blocks. Three of LaBrie's roofs were solo.
Natashya Enos recorded her eight double-double with 21 assists and 14 digs while
Brenda Walker led the match with 25 digs.
Azusa Pacific had four players in double-digit kills, led by Joy Reinke with 15. The Cougars, who had only seven blocks in the first meeting against Chaminade, piled up 13 on Friday.
The 'Swords found themselves trailing much throughout the first set and down 24-20, staved off set point three times before APU got the winner from Ashley Midland to take a 1-0 lead.
In Set 2, Chaminade trailed 7-3 but rallied when Passi nearly single-handedly got the Silverswords the lead at 9-7 with two kills and her two aces. The Cougars would regain the advantage at 18-16 on the power of back-to-back blocks but again the 'Swords rallied. Johnson recorded three blocks as part of a 4-0 run to put the home team back up 20-18. The Cougars again rallied to tie the score at 20 but
Cassie Rushlow's two kills and Johnson tallied two points on a block and a set-ending kill to square the match.
In the third set, APU's 5-0 run early and 6-0 run late helped power them to a third set win to take a 2-1 lead.
With their backs to the wall, the 'Swords opened up a 10-3 lead as LaBrie record three straight blocks as part of a 7-1 run. APU chipped away and eventually caught the 'Swords at 18. But Bakic and Passi put down back-to-back attacks and
Kasse-Ann Kiriu-Dela Cruz's ace sprung a 5-0 run to force the match to a decisive fifth set.
Azusa Pacific took control of the winner-take-all set early by running off the first four points. Spring and Passi combined for three kills to bring the 'Swords to within a point but APU charged ahead to take a seemingly insurmountable 12-6 advantage.
However home team refused to back down. Bakic put down an attack then Chaminade put up a wall as Johnson teamed with Rushlow and Spring for consecutive blocks followed by an APU ball-handling error and suddenly the 'Swords were back in it, trailing 12-10. Reinke's final kill set up match point at 14-11 but the Silverswords staved off elimination twice via Passi's back-to-back kills. But APU got the winner on a block to give the 'Swords their second home loss of the year.
Statistically, the match was near even. Both teams had 56 kills and six aces while Chaminade led in assists, 53-51. Azusa Pacific won the digs total, 73-64.
The Silverswords will try to shake off the defeat when longtime intercity rival Hawai'i Pacific University visits McCabe Gym on Saturday. Chaminade will look to stop a string of 15 straight losses to the Sharks which dates back to September 2008.
The match is set for 7 p.m. with live streaming audio coverage on GoSwords.com.
