AZUSA, Calif. – When Azusa Pacific University became a Pacific West Conference member in 2012, the Cougars dominated the series against the Chaminade University women's volleyball team, winning 13 of the first 14 meetings.
Times have certainly changed.
The No. 15 Silverswords on Friday swept the Cougars, 25-11, 25-22, 25-18, at the Felix Event Center in a match-up of the second- and third-place teams in the PacWest, recording their sixth straight win in the series.
Chaminade, with its first-ever match sweep at Azusa Pacific, completed its five-match road swing through southern California by winning four of five and improving to 26-3 overall and 14-3 in the PacWest.
All five of Chaminade's starting attacking players had at least five kills and three blocks.
Ajack Malual (Rome, Italy/Tambosi ETI) put down a match-high 15 kills while hitting .433 while
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS) put down another 11.
Although the 'Swords had just three service aces, they amassed 12 total team blocks, while holding APU to just two.
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) had a season-high eight total blocks in addition to nine kills while Malual and Corti both pushed back four. Lopez also hit at a .600 clip.
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) had seven kills and three blocks with
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS) getting five kills.
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) dished out 41 assists and 11 digs, her 16th double-double this season, while
Hula Crisostomo (Honolulu/Univ. of Texas El Paso/Moanalua HS) had 24 digs, the most in a three-set match in the conference this season.
Annaka Jorgenson had nine kills for Azusa Pacific which fell to 14-9 and 11-4 in the PacWest.
After spotting APU a 5-2 lead, the 'Swords went on a 15-2 run for a runaway first set win.
The Cougars fought back and have five three-point leads in the second set, the last at 19-16. But Malual and Lopez accounted for four points to help Chaminade take a 22-20 lead. Malual's 13th kill of the match would end the set and give 'Swords a two-set advantage.
The Silverswords trailed just once in the third set – at 1-0 – as Corti put down eight kills in the frame to help them complete the season sweep of the Cougars.
Chaminade hit .336 while APU was held to .114. The 'Swords tallied 47 kills, 46 assists and 64 digs while APU had 30 kills, 26 assists, 47 digs and three aces.
The Silverswords will close out the regular season with three home matches at McCabe Gymnasium starting Friday, Nov. 10 against Dominican University of California. The match is at 7 p.m. and will be part of a doubleheader with the women's basketball season opener.
