HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team wrapped up the Hawai'i/Alaska Challenge Sunday by splitting their two matches against the 49th state counterparts at McCabe Gymnasium.
The Silverswords dropped a tough four-set bout against Alaska Anchorage, 27-25, 20-25, 26-24, 25-23, in their morning match. But they rebounded in the afternoon against the University of Alaska, not only overcoming a 2-sets-to-1 deficit but by rallying from a nine-point deficit in what was potentially the close-out set in the fourth to win, 21-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11.
Brooklen Pe'a (Woods Cross, Utah/Youngstown State/Bountiful HS) put down 34 total kills in the doubleheader while
Kyra McCain (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) added 25 for the 'Swords who are 3-1 on the year.
Alaska Anchorage 3, Chaminade 1
The operative phrase for the Silverswords was missed opportunities. They had four cracks to close out the first set and another in the third. In the fourth, they rallied from down 22-16 but couldn't complete the comeback to force a fifth set.
Pe'a led Chaminade with 14 kills while picking up 11 digs.
Marcelle Butler (Woodstock, Ga./Howard University/Sequoyah HS) added 13 with
Lataisia Saulala (Morgan Hill, Calif./Oakwood) and McCain contributing with 10 each. McCain also had four total blocks.
Alexia Byrnes (Chicago/Youngstown State/Saint Francis HS) dished out 42 assists while
Anna Dalla Vecchia (Vicenza, Italy/University of San Francisco/IIS S.B. Boscardin) had 31 digs.
The match was nearly even statistically with both teams having identical kills (57) with UAA having the edge in aces (8-6) and assists (46-44) while Chaminade had the advantage in digs (79-76) and blocks (7-5).
Eve Stephens led the Seawolves (3-1) with 15 kills.
It is the second straight season the two teams split their two meetings. This past April, the 'Swords and Seawolves swept each other in consecutive days in Hilo.
Chaminade 3, Alaska 2
For the second straight day, the two squads went into a fifth and decisive set. In Saturday's meeting, Chaminade had to hold off Alaska at bay after taking a two-set lead. On Sunday, however, the Silverswords had to rally back, and then some.
Trailing 2-sets-to-1, the 'Swords found themselves in a quandary. They surrendered the first five points of the fourth set and later, were down 18-9. Defeat seemed inevitable.
But Byrnes' kill started an 11-1 run, capped by a block from McCain to put the Silverswords ahead for the first time in the set. In all, Chaminade ended the fourth on a 16-4 surge to force the fifth set. Pe'a put down seven kills during the set, six coming in the 'Swords' big set-ending run.
The Nanooks (2-2) managed to take a 5-4 lead in the final set but the momentum had swung too far on Chaminade's side. The Silverswords scored six of the next seven points to help them pull away and stun the visitors, giving them their sixth straight win in the series, and the 15th in the last 17 meetings.
Pe'a had 20 kills in the match, along with 12 digs for her fourth double-double in as many matches this season. She also had four blocks as did Saulala.
McCain put down a career-high 15 kills while hitting .433 while Butler and
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/University of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo) each had nine kills with Corti adding four aces.
For the second straight day, Byrnes set a career-high in assists, posting 54 while adding 15 digs. Dalla Vecchia posted 24 digs, her fourth straight match of 20 or more.
Chaminade outhit Alaska with 65 kills to the Nanooks' 53, had more digs (89-76) and assists (56-47) while aces were even at eight each.
The Silverswords will embark for the mainland for the first time since 2019 when they compete in the Western Washington Invitational in Bellingham, Wash. The 'Swords will be tested in a strong field with MSU Denver and host Western Washington both ranked 11th and 14th in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 Poll. Chaminade will also face Sonoma State and Central Washington, both of whom had winning records in 2019, the last full season of volleyball.
