Every Monday, GoSwords.com will publish "This Week in 'Swords History presented by Big City Diner" which looks back at significant events and some of the memorable games that helped shape Chaminade University Athletics into what it is today.
Nov. 12, 1996: Women's Volleyball Captures PacWest Title
In 1996, the Chaminade University women's volleyball team was in their third year in the Pacific West Conference and had not experienced a winning season in a decade.
But that year, the Silverswords won their first six matches of the season and their first five against PacWest opponents, putting them position atop the conference for the first time ever.
Returning from an October conference trip to Alaska where they won three of four, the 'Swords returned home and ran their PacWest record to 9-1.
With two conference matches remaining, Chaminade needed to win just one to wrap up their first PacWest title. On Nov. 12,
Hinano Warfield and
Danielle Robins each put down 13 kills for the 'Swords, who overwhelmed Western New Mexico, 15-11, 15-6, 15-12, in front of 200 fans at McCabe Gymnasium on Senior Night to clinch a share of the crown.
Chaminade clinched the title outright three days later with a sweep at Hawai'i Hilo which remains as the program's only conference championship. The Silverswords, who went 6-18 the previous year, finished with a 21-9 mark and 11-1 in the conference.
Although the 'Swords were not invited to the NCAA postseason (the PacWest did not have automatic qualification status), their 12-match improvement remains the best in school history.
