HONOLULU – The 16th-ranked Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Sunday wrapped up their short three-match McCabe Gymnasium home stand with a 25-18, 25-17, 25-21 win over Westmont College, the newest member of the Pacific West Conference.
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS) put down a match-high 10 kills as the Silverswords won their ninth straight to improve to 22-2 on the season and 10-2 in the PacWest, staying within two matches of conference-leading Point Loma (12-0).
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) added five kills in the win while
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) added four and three total blocks.
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS) and
Heavenly Campbell (Waialua, O'ahu, Hawai'i/College of Southern Idaho/Damien HS) each put down three kills with Schilling having a hand in four blocks along with two service aces.
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) had a solid all-around match with 18 assists, eight kills, a season-high five blocks and two kills.
Hula Crisostomo (Honolulu/Univ. of Texas El Paso/Moanalua HS) had 15 digs to increase her conference-leading digs average to 4.95 per set.
Nariah Prescott led the Warriors (8-11, 5-7 PacWest) with nine kills in the first meeting between the two programs since Westmont took a two-match series back in August 1990.
The common theme of all three sets was Chaminade overwhelming the Warriors early, Westmont putting late charges when the 'Swords removed most of their regulars only to have those rallies snuffed out by service errors.
In the opening set, Chaminade held leads of 20-11 and 22-12 before Westmont closed to within 24-18 on the 'Swords' reserves before a service error ended the frame. In the second set, the Silverswords were up big, 24-12, when the Warriors scored five straight before committing a service error on Chaminade's sixth chance at set point.
In the third set, Chaminade again was up 22-15 before Westmont went on another 5-0 run to pull to within 22-20. However the rally was again thwarted by an error on the next serve. A Warriors' attack was long to set up aloha ball where Corti slammed down the match winner to complete the sweep.
Chaminade hit .161 on the afternoon with 29 kills, 27 assists, 34 digs, nine aces and nine total team blocks. Westmont hit .050 with 32 kills, 31 assists, 35 digs, five blocks and three aces.
The Silverswords will head back to the mainland for the always-difficult Southern California portion of the conference schedule. Right off the bat, they will have an opportunity to avenge their two losses in Concordia University Irvine and Point Loma. The trip starts Thursday at CUI then Saturday at PLNU's Golden Gymnasium.
