SAN DIEGO – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team opened their foray in Southern California with a stinging five-set loss to Point Loma, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-10, Monday at Golden Gym.
The Silverswords appeared to have a stranglehold in the fifth set, leading by as many as five early but withered down the stretch as the Sea Lions out-pointed them 13-3 including a stunning 10-1 run to end the match.
Chaminade fell to 7-5 overall and 1-2 in the Pacific West Conference. Point Loma, down to nine healthy position players, improved to 4-9 and 2-2.
Daisia LaBrie struck down a match-high 15 kills with four blocks in defeat while
Kim Spring added 12.
Kira Long and
Cassie Rushlow had seven and six kills, respectively.
PLNU's Brianna Sizemore matched LaBrie for high-kills honors with 15. Samantha Krakower added 12.
After the Sea Lions captured the first set, the 'Swords opened up a 16-7 lead in Set 2 thanks in part to a 10-2 run as LaBrie and Spring combined for five points. After PLNU closed to within four, Chaminade, which hit .409 in the frame, went on a set-ending 6-1 surge to even the match at 1.
PLNU took a 2-1 lead after winning the third set, but the 'Swords rallied in the fourth and led by as many as seven at 11-4. The Sea Lions closed to within a point on two occasions late but kills from Rushlow, Spring and LaBrie ended the set to force a decisive fifth.
Chaminade built a seemingly commanding 7-2 advantage to start the set but PLNU mounted a furious rally as Krakower and Sizemore combined for three kills to pull the Sea Lions to 9-8, prompting Chaminade to call timeout. After the Silverswords forced a hitting error to go up 10-8, Point Loma continued to ride the momentum it built, catching the 'Swords at 10 on a Sizemore kill. An ace by Megan Angerstein put PLNU ahead then Krakower took over, putting down three of the match's final four kills to complete the comeback.
Natashya Enos and
Skyler Curry combined for 34 assists while
Waihilo Chartrand had a team-high 17 digs.
On paper, the match was near even. Both teams had 10 service aces and five total team blocks while Chaminade had slightly more kills (50-49). Despite outhitting PLNU .239-.194, the Sea Lions held the advantage in assists (47-42) and digs (59-46).
The 'Swords will be at Azusa Pacific on Wednesday.
