HONOLULU – After an unsatisfying spring season which ended four months ago, the Chaminade University women's volleyball team opened the fall season Saturday, hosting a pair of matches in the Hawai'i/Alaska Challenge at McCabe Gymnasium.
In their season opener at high noon, the Silverswords survived a five-set marathon by downing the University of Alaska, 25-16, 25-19, 21-25, 24-26, 18-16. The match featured back-and-forth defense with 179 combined digs and 10 players reaching the double-digit mark in the category.
Chaminade then closed the day with a 25-23, 22-25, 26-24, 25-23 victory over Alaska Anchorage, giving the program its 400th all-time win.
The Silverswords' quartet of Division I transfers made impressive debuts:
- Right-side hitter Marcelle Butler (Woodstock, Ga./Howard University/Sequoyah HS) tallied 26 kills on the day and eight total blocks;
- Libero Anna Dalla Vecchia (Vicenza, Italy/University of San Francisco/IIS S.B. Boscardin) had 46 digs and seven service aces;
- Dalla Vecchia's USF teammate Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/University of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo) accounted for 19 kills and 26 digs;
- And setter Alexia Byrnes (Chicago/Youngstown State/Saint Francis HS) dished out 90 assists to go along with 28 digs.
Meanwhile, Chaminade (2-0) still rode the arm of returnees
Brooklen Pe'a (Woods Cross, Utah/Youngstown State/Bountiful HS) and her team-high 28 total kills along with
Lataisia Saulala's (Morgan Hill, Calif./Oakwood) 16 kills and seven total blocks as well as 18 kills and six blocks from
Kyra McCain (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton).
"It was very satisfying to open the season with two wins against quality opponents, especially since we had just 10 days of practice together as a full team," said head coach
Kahala Kabalis Hoke. "We still have a lot of work to do if we want to accomplish our goals.
"I'm also pleased to have our program reach the 400-win milestone. I'm grateful for everyone who has worn a Chaminade uniform in the past to help achieve this feat."
Match 1 (CUH 3, UAF 2)
Chaminade certainly looked the part of a team eager to make up for a 7-9 spring season, limiting Alaska to a .000 hitting percentage through the first two sets. The 'Swords rolled to leads of 21-11 in the first and 23-17 in the second.
The third set saw the Nanooks use a 5-0 run to break a 10-all tie en-route to win to send the match into extra sets. The Silverswords had several leads late in the fourth including a chance to serve for the match at 24-22 but three attack errors helped UAF win four straight points to force a fifth set.
Chaminade opened up a 5-1 lead to start the final set but UAF eventually rallied and caught the 'Swords at 8. The drama extended late into the frame with the Nanooks serving for the match at 14-13 and 16-15 while the Silverswords had match point at 15-14. At CUH's second aloha ball, Pe'a rocketed a spike which grazed a Nanook for the winner.
Pe'a and Butler had 16 kills each for Chaminade. Corti added 12 with six coming in the final set.
The 'Swords amassed 92 assists in the match, the program's most since Aug. 30, 2012 when they dished out 93 against Montana State Billings. Five Silverswords were also in double-digit digs, led by Dalla Vecchia's 20. She also contributed with five aces.
Byrnes dished out 51 assists for the 'Swords, surpassing her previous career high of 45 she set against Bucknell in August 2019 while she was at Youngstown State. It was also the most assists by a Silversword since Tanya Alvino had the same number in October 2010 against Dixie State. Byrnes also had 17 digs while the 'Swords' other double-digit performers in the digs category were Pe'a (15), Corti (18) and
Tate Lutu (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts) who had a career-high 13 in her first action on the floor since 2019.
Chaminade won its fifth straight over UAF, dating back to 2011, and has won 14 of the last 16 matchups.
Both teams hit .141 with Alaska picking up 15 team blocks to Chaminade's seven. However, the 'Swords countered with seven aces and surrendered just one.
AveRee Reynolds led the Nanooks (2-1) with 14 kills.
Match 2 (CUH 3, UAA 1)
The meeting between Chaminade and Alaska Anchorage likely drew some curious onlookers on the West Coast, particularly since both are receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 Poll.
The contest certainly did not disappoint. The midway point of the opening set was all about runs. Eight of the Seawolves' final 14 points were natural points while the Silverswords had eight in their final 10 including a run of six straight to help them take a 1-0 lead.
After Alaska Anchorage squared the match, the 'Swords rallied from 23-21 and 24-23 deficits to win the all-important third set to go up 2-1.
Chaminade seemingly took control of the fourth set with an 8-2 advantage but UAA rallied and eventually went up 13-11. However a 6-1 run put them up for good and Saulala slammed the door shut on aloha ball to ensure the Silverswords' Saturday sweep.
Pe'a again led the way for the 'Swords in the kills department with 12 while Butler added 10. McCain put down nine attacks followed by Saulala with eight and Corti with seven.
Dalla Vecchia mustered 26 digs while Pe'a had her second double-double of the day with 11 digs. Byrnes had 39 assists and 11 digs in the second match. McCain and Butler also had four blocks each.
Although the Seawolves had more kills (54-to-47) and blocks (9-to-7), the 'Swords countered with 10 aces (four from Pe'a) and had 67 digs to UAA's 61.
Eve Stephens had a match-high 22 kills for Alaska Anchorage (2-1).
The Hawai'i/Alaska Challenge wraps Sunday with Chaminade having rematches against UAA at 10 a.m. and UAF at 3 p.m.
