HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team was on a mission.
Two days after suffering their first Pacific West Conference loss of the season, which snapped their 13-match overall and 19-match conference winning streaks, the Silverswords rebounded with a 25-19, 25-15, 25-17 sweep of Concordia University Irvine Friday at McCabe Gymnasium.
The 'Swords were back to their customary ways, spreading the wealth and hitting for high efficiency while wreaking havoc on the defensive side.
Seven Chaminade attackers had five or more kills, led by
Sasha Colombo (Milan, Italy/Colorado State/Liceo Scientifico Giordano Bruno HS) and
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS), who each put down nine kills on the evening. The team hit .394 with just seven attack errors and held Concordia to a .110 percentage.
Chaminade, decked out in their pink uniforms to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month, improved to 17-7 overall and 12-1 in the PacWest, giving them a two-match lead over second-place Fresno Pacific and Point Loma (10-3 PacWest) in the standings.
Lataisia Saulala (Morgan Hill, Calif./Oakwood) and
Brooklen Pe'a (Woods Cross, Utah/Youngstown State/Bountiful HS) each had six kills while
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS) and
Ajack Malual (Trento, Italy/Tambosi ETI) had five each with the latter wowing the crowd of 345 with several thunderous spikes.
Even setter
Alexia Byrnes (Chicago/Youngstown State/Saint Francis HS) got into the attacking fun with six of her own and had three of the team's seven service aces.
The Eagles (12-8, 9-4 PacWest) were paced by Kirra Schulz's seven kills.
In addition to the offensive show, the 'Swords had eight team blocks to Concordia's three, with Schilling pushing back six total while out-digging Concordia, 54-to-44.
Nanna Inoue (Kula, Maui, Hawai'i/Tyler JC/King Kekaulike HS) scooped up 16 digs while Corti added 11.
In the beginning of the opening set, it appeared the 'Swords were still smarting from Wednesday's Point Loma loss, falling behind 4-1 which included surrendering a pair of aces. But the 'Swords recovered, thanks to their defense, scoring three consecutive points on blocks with all six CUH starters getting block assists. Tied at 13, Chaminade went on a 7-2 run to take the lead for good followed by another run of four straight points to give them the Set 1 victory.
Chaminade again fell behind, 4-1, in the second set before settling down behind a 12-3 surge which helped them take a two-set lead.
The 'Swords built as many as a 16-11 lead in the third stanza but CUI wasn't going away quietly, closing to within 19-17, prompting CUH to call a timeout. The break proved to work as the Silverswords scored the next six points with three Saulala kills and two Byrnes aces to seal the win.
Chaminade tallied 46 kills to Concordia's 30 while Byrnes delivered 24 of the team's 39 assists.
Alecza Abary (Fontana, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) added 10 assists on the evening.
The Silverswords return to action Wednesday when they host Biola at McCabe Gym. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
