HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team resumed action Friday and took two hard-fought matches in the Honolulu Invitational at McCabe Gym.
The Silverswords defeated Montana State-Billings in the morning match then dispatched Cal Poly Pomona in the evening, both in 3-1 decisions.
Sophomore middle
Daisia LaBrie had a spectacular showing, putting down a combined 28 kills while hitting .571 on the day. The 'Swords also piled up 19.5 blocks in the eight sets on Friday.
Chaminade improved to 3-0 on the year.
Match 1 vs. Montana State-Billings
LaBrie hammered down 13 kills while
Kim Spring had 11 in the Silverswords' 25-23, 25-14, 21-25, 25-19 victory over the Yellowjackets (1-1). LaBrie hit .526 on the day while Spring's percentage was a healthy .346.
Like their win last Friday against No. 14 Alaska Anchorage, the 'Swords showed balance with three more players tallying seven or more kills.
Kiana Drumheller put down nine successful attacks followed by
Cassie Rushlow with eight and
Emma Tecklenburg's seven. Chaminade also hit .284 on the afternoon.
LaBrie also provided six total blocks as the 'Swords out-blocked the Yellowjackets 11-4. They also out-aced MSUB 9-5 with
Waihilo Chartrand finding the floor three times.
After Chaminade captured the first set, the Silverswords scored the first five points of the second, cruising to a 2-0 lead. However the scrappy 'Jackets wouldn't go away, winning the third set.
Then in Set 4, MSUB led by as many by three at 12-9 and threatened to send the match to a decisive fifth. But the 'Swords scored eight of the next 10 points, including a 5-0 surge to take the lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Ashlynn Ward led the Yellowjackets with a match-high 21 kills.
Match 2 vs. Cal Poly Pomona
LaBrie again proved to be a force as her 15 kills and .609 hitting percentage led the 'Swords to the 21-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-21 win over the Broncos in the nightcap match.
Spring put down seven kills for Chaminade while Rushlow contributed with six. The 'Swords also out-blocked the Broncos 8.5-2 as
Ku`ulei Lynch led the way with four total blocks.
After a 32-assist outing against MSUB,
Natashya Enos tallied a double-double with 22 assists and 12 digs while
Kasse-Ann Kiriu-Dela Cruz had 10 digs.
Alexandra Gresham led Cal Poly Pomona (0-2) with 11 kills.
CPP captured the first set and appeared well on its way to going up 2-0, grabbing a 17-12 lead in the second. However the 'Swords used a 7-1 run to surge ahead. The Broncos knotted the score at 19 but with Kiriu-Dela Cruz at the service line, the senior plunked down three consecutive service aces as Chaminade scored the set's final six points to even the match.
The 'Swords' momentum continued in Set 3 as they jumped out to an 8-1 advantage and never looked back, taking 2-1 lead, holding the Broncos to a -.029 attack percentage in the frame.
Chaminade appeared to be cruising in the fourth, jumping ahead 16-7 before the Broncos rallied and closed to within two points at 22-20. But LaBrie put down a pair of attacks then Enos' kill closed out the match.
The Silverswords conclude the Invitational Saturday with their second split doubleheader in as many days at McCabe Gym. Chaminade faces San Francisco State at 11:30 a.m. followed by Alaska at 7 p.m. Streaming audio coverage will be available for the Alaska match only.
