HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team put together one of their most impressive performances of the season Wednesday with a 25-13, 25-13, 25-15 win over Dominican University of California at McCabe Gymnasium.
The Silverswords hit a whopping .432 on the evening – a season best and the fourth highest in program history – en-route to their 12th consecutive victory of the season.
Chaminade improved to 15-6 overall and 10-0 in the Pacific West Conference. The victory was not only their 18th straight win against PacWest opponents dating back to last season, they also captured their 35th straight victory against conference foes from the Northern California and Central Valley regions.
The Penguins were held to a -.059 attack percentage as they continue to seek their first win of the season at 0-18 and 0-10 in the PacWest. Edee Leslie had four kills as Dominican had just 15 kills as a team.
Sasha Colombo (Milan, Italy/Colorado State/Liceo Scientifico Giordano Bruno HS) continued to demonstrate impressive efficiency, with a match-high eight kills. The graduate transfer did not commit a hitting error in 11 swings for a percentage of .727.
Lataisia Saulala (Morgan Hill, Calif./Oakwood) added seven kills on the night, committing just one attack error while hitting .667.
Ajack Malual (Trento, Italy/Tambosi ETI) and
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS) each put down six kills for the 'Swords.
Chaminade never trailed in any point during the match. The Penguins were able to get two ties early in the second set and three in the third before the 'Swords began to establish their will with a series of runs, particularly at the service line. Chaminade got 12 service aces, tying its season high. Eight of them were in the first 11 points of all three sets. Five Silverswords had multiple aces with
Elli Tsukano (Austin, Texas/James Bowie) tying her career high with three.
Chaminade hit .500 in the first two sets before somewhat coming back down to earth with a .324 percentage in the final stanza. Meanwhile Dominican hit .000 in the opening set but hit just -.082 in the final two sets.
Alexia Byrnes (Chicago/Youngstown State/Saint Francis HS) and
Alecza Abary (Fontana, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) combined for 29 of the team's 34 assists (Byrnes with 21, Abary eight) while
Nanna Inoue (Kula, Maui, Hawai'i/Tyler JC/King Kekaulike HS) had nine of the team's 29 digs with Byrnes adding seven.
Although the 'Swords had just three total team blocks to Dominican's one, they tallied 56 points to DUC's 19.
The Silverswords are next in action Saturday when they host Holy Names University at McCabe Gym. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
