HONOLULU – Thursday was one of those scheduling anomalies that saw three different Chaminade University teams facing off against their in-city rivals Hawai'i Pacific University.
While the men's and women's soccer teams had a loss and tie, respectively, in Waipahu, the 18th-ranked women's volleyball team made sure that Silversword fans wouldn't go into the night empty-handed.
In a balanced attack, five 'Swords registered five or more kills, led by
Ajack Malual's (Rome, Italy/Tambosi ETI) nine in helping Chaminade turn back the Sharks in straight sets, 25-17, 25-21, 25-13, at McCabe Gymnasium, and sweep the season series for the fifth time in the last six championship seasons.
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS),
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS) and
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) each had eight kills to help the Silverswords win their fifth straight to improve to 18-2 overall and 6-2 in the Pacific West Conference.
Corti also added four service aces, giving her 111 in her CUH career to move her past Natashya Enos and Danielle Robins (109) for fourth in the school's all-time list.
Heavenly Campbell (Waialua, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Idaho/Damien HS), making her second career start and first at home, added five kills.
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) had 32 assists and seven digs while
Hula Crisostomo (Honolulu/Univ. of Texas El Paso/Moanalua HS) got 17 digs on the night.
It was the ninth consecutive win in the series by Chaminade, beating its previous long of eight straight, achieved during the program's NAIA days from 1985 to 1987. They have also won 16 straight sets against HPU, which still leads the overall series, 75-to-43.
The Sharks got a team-high seven kills from Marley Sandoval in falling to 2-11 and 2-7 in the PacWest.
Chaminade opened up a 13-5 lead in the opening set and pulled away late thanks to a .359 attack percentage in the frame.
But HPU, which had a two-match win streak heading into Thursday, scored the first five points of the second set and led by as many as 14-6. Ten of the Sharks' points were self-inflicted by the 'Swords with hitting, blocking, serving and reception errors.
However, a Chaminade timeout seemed to calm the team's nerves, as they went on a 9-1 run to force a 15-15 tie. An ace from Malaul gave the 'Swords their first lead of the frame at 17-16 before HPU retook the lead at 19-18. Then tied at 21, Corti put down an attack followed by an ace from Ama which began a chain of four straight points to end the set and a 2-0 lead.
With the scare having given them their full attention, Chaminade opened the third by scoring six of the set's first seven points, a lead which eventually swelled to 16-5.
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) put down two of her four kills down the stretch while
Brooklyn Poling (Gilbert, Ariz./Western Carolina Univ./Perry HS),
Tabby Allen (Leander, Texas/Rouse) and Lopez accounted for the 'Swords' final three points to ensure the sweep.
Chaminade hit .354 in the match with 48 kills while holding HPU to a .126 percentage and 25 kills. The 'Swords compiled 46 assists, nine aces, 42 digs and two total team blocks. Meanwhile the Sharks had 23 assists, four aces, 29 digs and three total blocks.
Prior to the match, the team had an alumnae game in conjunction with Chaminade Alumni Day. Eight former 'Swords were on hand with Enos,
Alecza Abary,
Alexia Byrnes, Alana Handy, Tate Lutu,
Brooklen Pe'a,
Kaybrie Pe'a and Kapiolani Rapoza facing off against the reserves of the current squad called Chaminade Blue. CUH Blue ended up winning in a best-of-three sets.
The Silverswords will hit the road once again this Saturday to face their other state rival against the University of Hawai'i Hilo on the Big Island. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
