HONOLULU – Earlier on Wednesday, the Chaminade University women's volleyball team were surprised they weren't one of the top 10 squads in the first regional rankings despite being the Pacific West Conference's first-place team.
The disappointment carried over later in the evening in the Silverswords' match at intercity rival Hawai'i Pacific University, dropping a 25-20, 25-21, 25-23 decision, playing for the first time ever at HPU's new home, the Shark Tank located at the former Saint Francis School in Manoa Valley.
Combined with Azusa Pacific's win at Fresno Pacific earlier in the afternoon, the loss dropped the 'Swords out of first place for the first time this season and created a three-way logjam in second place between the three Hawai'i school with Chaminade (19-5), HPU (17-7) and Hawai'i Hilo (18-6) each having 13-3 conference records. It was also the first time this season the 'Swords suffered consecutive losses and also snapped their five-match winning streak to HPU dating back to 2016.
Rachel Reedy (Temple City, Calif./Arcadia) put down a team-high 10 kills for the Silverswords while
Annah Rivera (Granada Hills, Calif./Bishop Alemany) added nine.
Needing just one kill entering the match to tie Trina Kauliakamoa for third in the school's all-time kill list,
Emma Tecklenburg (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior) put down eight to continue to move up the charts with 1,218. Valasi Sepulona is next with 1,259.
The 'Swords were held to a .109 hitting percentage while Hawai'i Pacific hit .239 and amassed 12 total team blocks.
Chaminade jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the first set but the Sharks chomped back with the help of a 10-2 run. Later a 7-1 run gave HPU its largest lead of 22-16 to help take the first set.
The Sharks continued to ride the momentum in taking the second set with the help of two six-point leads although twice the 'Swords closed to within a point.
With their necks in the preverbal predator-filled water, the 'Swords trailed 22-16 but showed no quit by closing to 24-23 thanks to a 7-2 surge. But the deficit proved to be too much to overcome as Perla Escobar put the match-clincher.
Natashya Enos (Kahalu'u, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Saint Francis), in her return to her high school alma mater's gym, had 15 assists while
Alecza Abary (Fontana, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) added nine.
Danielle Wiley (Peoria, Ariz./Centennial) provided a spark with five.
Leka Kiner-Falefa (Honolulu/UNLV/Mid-Pacific Institute) dug up a match-high 19 digs along with six assists on the night.
Jacqueline Wolfe (Laguna Hills, Calif./Irvine Valley CC/Mater Dei), who began her college career at HPU, had a team-high three blocks.
Rivera had three of the 'Swords' seven service aces while Tecklenburg and
Tate Lutu (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts) each had two. Chaminade also held the Sharks to without an ace on the night.
HPU's victory means the Sharks win the volleyball segment of the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge by going 3-1 against CUH and UH Hilo. Chaminade is the second-place finisher for the first time since the Challenge was instituted in 2015.
The Silverswords now embark on a critical road trip to Southern California that will determine whether the season continues in December or ends later this month. The 'Swords open their trip next Monday at Azusa Pacific which swept them earlier this season at McCabe Gymnasium.
