HONOLULU – Playing as a new nationally-ranked squad will always bring out the best in an opponent.
Trying to face them without all their ammo makes it that much daunting.
On Friday, the Chaminade University women's volleyball team played their first match as a nationally-ranked squad in 16 years. However, host Hawai'i Pacific University – a program that is no stranger to the national limelight – nearly soured the moment.
The Silverswords, ranked 21st in the AVCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, but playing shorthanded, survived a hungry Sharks squad before prevailing, 27-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, at the Shark Tank in a thrilling match that lasted a shade over two hours.
Marcelle Butler (Woodstock, Ga./Howard University/Sequoyah HS) put down a career-high 18 kills, hitting .344 with five total blocks to help the 11-2 'Swords win their Pacific West Conference opener.
Annah Rivera (Granada Hills, Calif./Bishop Alemany) added 10 kills and 16 digs while
Lataisia Saulala (Morgan Hill, Calif./Oakwood) had nine kills and eight total blocks for Chaminade.
Alexia Byrnes (Chicago/Youngstown State/Saint Francis HS) dished out 44 assists and 10 digs while
Anna Dalla Vecchia (Vicenza, Italy/University of San Francisco/IIS S.B. Boscardin HS) posted 22 digs.
Tate Lutu (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts) added a career-high 14 digs.
HPU (1-8, 0-1 PacWest), which in its heyday captured two Division II national titles in the late 1990s, was led by Ella Doston's 14 kills.
Chaminade played from behind for most of the match, trailing by three in the first set, third and fourth sets and four in the second. However, they managed to put together runs in each set they captured.
The 'Swords faced a 9-6 deficit in the opening set before Butler accounted for half of the points in an 8-1 run with two kills, a block solo and a block assist, putting the 'Swords up 14-10. HPU fought back, eventually caught up and had set point at 24-23 before
Kyra McCain (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) put down three of Chaminade's final four kills to put the visitors up one-set-to-none.
The Sharks scored the first four points of the second set before the 'Swords rallied to jump ahead, 8-7. The lead would change hands 10 more times before
Kendall Rios (Tustin, Calif./Foothill), making her first career start, put down one of her career-best eight kills to put Chaminade ahead for good, 20-19, part of a 4-0 run to help them secure a two-set lead. Butler had six kills in the set alone.
But as the nature of the rivalry, HPU hung around in the third set, scoring the final three points to avoid being swept.
There was early drama to start the fourth set. HPU opened up a 6-3 advantage before kills from Byrnes, Rivera, Butler and a service ace from Dalla Vecchia were part of a 5-0 run to put the Silverswords up 12-9. The Sharks again had a response, eventually taking leads of 21-19 and 22-21. A decisive fifth set loomed on the horizon.
Butler slammed down her final kill of the match to square the set at 22, then the 'Swords forced an attack error to take the lead, followed by McCain's kill to set up match point. At aloha ball, Byrnes and McCain blocked Dotson, allowing the 'Swords to escape the Shark Tank with an eyebrow-wiping win.
Chaminade hit .123 in the match with 59 kills, 51 assists, 75 digs and 12 total team blocks. HPU hit .086 with42 kills, 41 assists, 70 digs and 10 total team blocks.
The Silverswords will have no time to rest on their laurels with the University of Hawai'i Hilo next on the docket on Saturday at 3 p.m. at McCabe Gymnasium. The Vulcans return to McCabe for the second straight weekend, after finishing 3-1 in the Hawai'i Challenge, their first four matches of the year.
UH Hilo, which suffered a surprising four-set loss to Saint Martin's in its opener last Friday, have won nine consecutive sets since. The Vulcans were picked to finish in a tie for second with the 'Swords in the PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll.
Fans are still prohibited from attending Saturday's match. However live streaming video remains free for all viewers.
