SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Monday rebounded from Saturday's defeat at Point Loma by sweeping past Westmont College, 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 at Murchison Gymnasium.
The Silverswords, who remained at No. 15 in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Top 25 Poll released earlier in the day, got five players with six or more kills, led by 10 from
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS) and nine more from
Ajack Malual (Rome, Italy/Tambosi ETI).
Chaminade, which swept the season series, improved to 24-3 overall and 12-3 in the Pacific West Conference, giving them a two-win lead over third-place Azusa Pacific (10-3 PacWest). They also handed the Warriors their first 0-3 sweep at home this season.
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) added eight kills for Chaminade while setter
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) put down a season-high seven more. The freshman also had another solid all-around match with 27 assists and eight digs.
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS) chipped in with six kills.
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) had five blocks with Schilling adding three more.
Hula Crisostomo (Honolulu/Univ. of Texas El Paso/Moanalua HS) came up with 16 digs.
Westmont, in its first year in the PacWest after moving up from NAIA, saw its three-match home win streak snapped and fell to 9-12 and 6-8 in the conference. Jessie Terlizzi had eight kills to lead the Warriors.
The 'Swords, making their first-ever appearance in Murchison Gym, led for a majority of the first set. Tied at 19, Chaminade ended the frame by outscoring the home team, 6-2, with the help from Ama, who put down consecutive kills to end the opener.
Malual and Lopez each tallied solo blocks to help the Silverwords score the first four points of the second set. But the Warriors stormed back thanks to an 11-3 run to take a 12-8 edge before Chaminade rallied. After CUH grabbed a 16-13 lead, there were five ties and four lead changes before a Westmont attack error set up set point. Malual and Lopez then teamed for a block to put them up two-sets-to-none.
In the third set, the Warriors jumped out to a 10-5 lead as they looked to extend the match. Ka'apuni put down a kill which began an 8-2 run with Corti's kill putting the 'Swords up 13-12. Westmont responded by taking three one-point leads before another Corti kill followed by two straight Westmont errors helped put Chaminade up 18-16. After ties at 19 and 20-all, Schilling put down two kills while
Nanna Inoue's (Kula, Maui, Hawai'i/Tyler JC/King Kekaulike HS) ace set up aloha ball. Ama's dump shot proved to be the match winner.
Chaminade hit .210 in the match to Westmont's .165. The 'Swords had 45 kills, 39 assists, 51 digs, four aces and five total team blocks.
The Warriors compiled 32 kills, 30 assists, 44 digs, two aces and seven team blocks.
The Silverswords' final two matches in the road trip will be against the two other squads who are right behind them in the PacWest standings for second place. The first will be Wednesday at Biola with first serve set for 4 p.m. Hawai'i time.
