HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Sunday afternoon made a clean sweep of the 2021 Hawai'i Challenge, downing a spirited Montana State Billings squad in the tournament finale at McCabe Gymnasium in four sets, 25-21, 26-24, 22-25, 25-16.
The win completed a run of four victories to no defeats for the Silverswords whose Set 3 loss to the Yellowjackets was their only dropped set of the tournament.
Brooklen Pe'a (Woods Cross, Utah/Youngstown State/Bountiful HS) put down 17 kills and had eight digs as the 'Swords improved to 10-2 on the season. Pe'a, a junior outside hitter, totaled 48 kills, 25 digs and four total blocks to capture tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
Kyra McCain (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) added 12 kills and three blocks for the 'Swords, who found themselves in an old fashion tussle in the final three sets against a foe hungry to not finish the tournament at 0-4.
McCain and
Lataisia Saulala (Morgan Hill, Calif./Oakwood), who had 10 kills and four blocks, were both named to the all-tournament team.
Alexia Byrnes (Chicago/Youngstown State/Saint Francis HS) was named the all-tournament setter and Anna Della Vecchia (Vicenza, Italy/University of San Francisco/IIS S.B. Boscardin HS) the all-tournament libero in voting conducted by all five coaches, statistics staff and media.
MSUB, desperate to get its first tourney win before returning to their campus in Billings, Mont., was looking to make amends after the 'Swords cruised past them on Saturday. The Yellowjackets did just that in the first set, scoring 21 points to become the first squad to post a 20-spot against Chaminade in the Challenge.
Using a 6-0 run midway through the second set, the Yellowjackets forced extra points before the 'Swords prevailed on a Byrnes kill and a service ace from
Annah Rivera (Granada Hills, Calif./Bishop Alemany).
However the tone of the match took a more serious turn in the third set. With the momentum having swung towards the visitors, MSUB roared out to a 10-5 lead and Chaminade got no closer to a point for the rest of the set.
That seemed to grab the 'Swords' attention. Like the Yellowjackets did, the Silverswords scored the first six points of the set and, leading 17-7, seemingly had the match under control. However, the situation became more serious again when MSUB took advantage of a Chaminade lull, scoring seven of the next eight points to close to within 18-14.
But this time, the 'Swords put their foot down. Leading 19-15,
Marcelle Butler (Woodstock, Ga./Howard University/Sequoyah HS) slammed down one of her eight kills to again turn the tide of the contest, part of a match-ending 6-1 surge. It wasn't until
Kendall Rios (Tustin, Calif./Foothill), whose match-ending attack from just outside the 3-meter line landed on the Billings' side, were the 'Swords able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Butler had six total blocks while Byrnes had 43 assists and six kills. Dalla Vecchia had 12 digs and three aces.
Chaminade hit .255 on the match with 57 kills and nine aces. MSUB was held to a .193 percentage and two aces. Both teams had nine total team blocks.
Montana State Billings (3-4) was led by Bayli Monck who put down 18 kills.
The Silverswords open Pacific West Conference action Friday when they visit Hawai'i Pacific University at The Shark Tank. They return home Saturday against Hawai'i Hilo with whom they were picked to finish in a tie for second in the PacWest Preseason Poll with.
Hawai'i Challenge All-Tournament Team
Tia Allen, Saint Martin's
Breyan Ashley, Cal State East Bay
Bria Beale, Hawai'i Hilo
Kyra McCain, Chaminade
Bayli Monk, Montana State Billings
Lataisia Saulala, Chaminade
Setter: Alexia Byrnes, Chaminade
Libero: Anna Dalla Vecchia, Chaminade
Most Outstanding Player: Brooklen Pe'a, Chaminade
