AZUSA, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team keeps finding ways to win.
Two nights after a stirring comeback at Dixie State, the Silverswords demonstrated physicality, amassing 14 total team blocks as Chaminade downed Azusa Pacific 22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22 Friday at the Felix Event Center. It's the most team blocks produced by Chaminade since prior to the 2005 season.
Reigna Johnson recorded a career-high 10 total blocks, the most by a 'Sword since Pisila Tukia had 12 in November 2010.
Cassie Rushlow also established a career-best with seven total.
Kim Spring had a match-high 15 kills for Chaminade, which improved to 12-3 overall and 5-2 in the Pacific West Conference, equaling both their overall and conference win totals from a year ago. Spring hit a blistering .480 on the night while contributing with seven digs and two service aces.
Keani Passi added 14 kills, 13 digs, three total blocks and two aces while
Suncica Bakic and
Daisia LaBrie each had seven kills while Rushlow had six. Bakic and
Skyler Curry also had seven digs each.
Natashya Enos had 24 assists and eight digs on the evening with Curry handling 20 assists.
Crystal Dedes led the Cougars (7-8, 3-4) with 10 kills.
After dropping the first set, the 'Swords came back with a vengeance in the second. Passi accounted for four points with two kills, a block and service ace as Chaminade opened up a 10-4 lead. The Silverswords' wall proved too formidable as Johnson and Rushlow combined for nine total blocks with Johnson getting five. The set ended fittingly when the duo combined for a block to tie the match. Chaminade had seven total team blocks in the second set and hit .258 while limiting the Cougars to a .030 attack percentage in the frame.
Azusa Pacific held a slim 12-11 lead in Set 3 but Chaminade went on an 8-1 run, powered by three Johnson block assists to give the visitors a 19-13 advantage. APU ran off three straight to close to 19-16 but a Bakic kill and the sixth block from the Johnson and Rushlow Roofing Company helped give the 'Swords a 2-1 match lead. Chaminade's block held APU to a .167 Set 3 percentage while the Silverswords hit .303.
In the fourth, both teams held three-point leads as the set was deadlocked at 19. Joy Reinke then committed an attack error followed by a Spring kill to put Chaminade up 21-19. After an APU point, the Cougars had a hitting error followed by Rushlow's kill to put the 'Swords up 23-20. LaBrie then set up aloha ball with her final kill of the night and two serves later, APU served into the net to end the match.
Chaminade hit .213 on the night while holding Azusa Pacific to .137 and had 50 assists to APU's 40.
The Silverswords wrap up their trip through the Southwest Pod of the conference when they face California Baptist Saturday. The Lancers (12-3 overall, 5-2 PacWest) were the preseason favorites to win the conference and are ranked just outside the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll.
