OAKLAND, Calif. – Last October the Chaminade University women's volleyball team suffered a disheartening loss to a Holy Names squad that was previously winless.
Returning to the scene 13 months later, the Silverswords made sure the result didn't happen again as they defeated the Hawks 23-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 Saturday at Tobin Gymnasium. The win improved Chaminade to 17-7 overall and 10-6 in the Pacific West Conference. It's the third time in program history that the 'Swords have 17 victories, which is second-most all-time.
Keani Passi put down a match-high 19 kills with 14 digs and a .469 hitting percentage as the 'Swords hit .400 on the night.
Daisia LaBrie added 12 kills with a .526 attacking percentage while
Kim Spring and
Cassie Rushlow had 10 kills each. Rushlow had no errors on 15 attacks for a .667 percentage.
Lihau Perreira led the Hawks (3-22, 1-15 PacWest) with 13 kills.
Despite having their lowest team blocking output since Sept. 24 (four total), the 'Swords made up for it with more kills (64-41), digs (53-41), assists (58-38) and service aces (8-4).
Brenda Walker had 14 digs for Chaminade while three 'Swords had double-digit assists (
Natashya Enos 30,
Skyler Curry 13,
Kasse-Ann Kiriu-Dela Cruz 11).
For a while, it appeared that the nightmare from 2014 would reappear as Holy Names captured the first set.
Both teams were never able to get separation from each other in Set 2 until the end. With Chaminade leading 18-16, LaBrie and Rushlow each put down kills and combined on a block. That led to the Silverswords scoring the set's final seven points to square the match.
The 'Swords then grabbed control of the match in the third set as a 10-3 run broke a 6-all tie to help put them up 2-1.
In the final set, Chaminade held a 17-15 advantage but Spring's two kills helped them score six of the next seven points to put the match away.
The Silverswords will return home Friday when they face PacWest-leading Dixie State at McCabe Gym. The 'Swords trail the Red Storm by three matches in the conference standings. DSU, which hasn't lost since the 'Swords toppled them on their own home floor last month, has won nine straight.
Live audio coverage of the match will be on GoSwords.com.
