LAIE, O'ahu, Hawai'i – In the 94
th and final meeting between the Chaminade University and BYU-Hawai'i women's volleyball teams, it was perhaps only fitting that the match was decided in a fifth set.
When the smoke cleared, it was the Seasiders who came out on top, ending the 33-year rivalry with a 19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 19-25, 15-12 win Friday at the Cannon Activities Center. BYUH is shutting down its intercollegiate athletics program following this academic term.
Kira Long mashed a career-high 18 kills and tied her career-best in total blocks with six in defeat while
Kim Spring, the reigning Pacific West Co-Player of the Week, put down 16. Spring also tied her career-high with 18 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
Waihilo Chartrand also had 18 digs for the royal blue and white.
The loss ended the Silverswords' four-match winning streak and dropped them to 13-11 overall and 7-8 in the PacWest.
BYUH was led by Leilani Adolpho's 14 kills as it improved to 6-17 and 4-10. The 'Siders ended the series with 15 straight wins over Chaminade at the CAC dating back to November 2004.
Cassie Rushlow had 12 kills for the 'Swords while
Daisia LaBrie had six.
The 'Swords managed to tie the modern day program record with 16 total blocks, 26 assisted.
Ku`ulei Lynch tied her career-high with eight blocks while LaBrie added seven and Rushlow six.
Both Chaminade setters excelled Friday as both
Skyler Curry and
Natashya Enos tallied double-doubles. Curry set career-highs with 25 assists and 16 digs for her third double-double of the season while Enos had her ninth with 21 assists and 12 digs.
Meanwhile Spring's kill total gave her 1,063. She needs 12 to move her past her current head coach,
Kahala Kabalis Hoke and Hinano Warfield for fourth in the career kills list. Spring also had an ace which moved her into the top-11 list for service aces with Tamara Kauliakamoa (75).
Rushlow now has 809 kills, becoming only the eighth 'Sword to reach 800 career kills. LaBrie in the meantime moved past Rushlow in the career blocks category with 206 while Rushlow currently has 205. Lynch's eight blocks moved her four spots in the career list with 188. LaBrie, Rushlow and Lynch hold the fifth, sixth and seventh spots, respectively, in the school's career block list.
The 'Swords had more kills (61-56), assists (56-52), digs (93-80), blocks (16.0-10.5) and the better percentage (.174-.093). But in the end, it wasn't enough against BYUH.
The Silverswords return to action Saturday when they host Hawai'i Hilo in their final home match of the season. It'll also be the final home matches for CUH seniors Chartrand, Lynch, Rushlow, Spring and
Kasse-Ann Kiriu-Dela Cruz. Live audio coverage will be on GoSwords.com.
