SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Just 24 hours after clinching the Pacific West Conference title and the automatic NCAA West Region berth that accompanies it, the Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Thursday was able to stave off a feisty Dominican University of California squad.
Ajack Malual (Trento, Italy/Tambosi ETI) put down a match-high 10 kills as the Silverswords downed the Penguins in straight sets, 25-22, 25-16, 25-23, at the Conlon Center.
Chaminade, winners of seven straight and 20 of their last 21, improved to 24-7 overall and 18-1 in the PacWest.
Lataisia Saulala (Morgan Hill, Calif./Oakwood) added nine kills with
Sasha Colombo (Milan, Italy/Colorado State/Liceo Scientifico Giordano Bruno HS) contributing with eight.
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS) had six kills and nine digs with
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS) and setter
Alexia Byrnes (Chicago/Youngstown State/Saint Francis HS) each putting down four.
Ella Heckman had a team-high nine kills for the Penguins who ended their season at 1-27 and 1-19 in the PacWest.
In the opening set, it seemed the 'Swords were still in the celebratory mode with the Penguins, who were coming off a high of defeating Hawai'i Pacific University the previous evening which snapped their 41-match losing streak, opening up a 16-12 lead. But like they have done all season, Chaminade put together its patented run, thanks to the serving of Byrnes. The senior had three of her team-high four service aces in 12-6 run to help them pull away in the opener.
The second set had a similar start with DUC jumping out to a 6-4 advantage. CUH replied with a yet another surge – this time at 17-6 – putting them up, 21-12. Malual accounted for four kills during the stretch while Corti added a pair.
Chaminade did not encounter a slow start in what was the final set but Dominican had three early ties and stayed within a point on several occasions, including at 11-10.
Brooklen Pe'a (Woods Cross, Utah/Youngstown State/Bountiful HS) then accounted for two straight points with a solo block and kill followed by an ace from
Nanna Inoue (Kula, Maui, Hawai'i/Tyler JC/King Kekaulike HS), stretching the 'Swords' lead to 14-10 which eventually grew to 21-14.
But the Penguins, with five seniors playing their final matches, stormed back and closed within a point to 23-22. However Malual's spike set up aloha ball and Byrnes put down her final kill of the evening to make the 'Swords victorious.
Chaminade, which increased their win streak against the conference's Northern California pod to 37, hit .321 on the night with 47 kills, all of which were assisted, with 40 digs, eight aces and five total team blocks.
Byrnes had 25 assists and seven digs with
Alecza Abary (Fontana, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) contributing with 11 assists and a pair of aces. Saulala and Schilling each had two blocks while Inoue had 12 digs.
The Penguins hit .242 with 36 kills, 34 assists, 38 digs, five aces and four blocks.
The Silverswords wrap up the regular season Saturday at Fresno Pacific in a matchup between the top two teams in the PacWest standings. First serve is scheduled for noon Hawai'i time.
