FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team began their Saturday with an impressive sweep of nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage. Their final match of the day might have been even more impressive.
The Silverswords set a school record with a .493 attack percentage in a 25-17, 25-11, 25-11, victory over the host University of Alaska at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium, improving to 4-0 on the first weekend of collegiate volleyball outside the contiguous 48 states.
The 'Swords committed just four attack errors on the evening.
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS) and
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) each had 11 kills for Chaminade with the former hitting .500 with five digs and two service aces.
Ajack Malual (Rome, Italy/Tambosi ETI) tallied eight kills with no errors on 14 swings for a .571 percentage. The sophomore, who also had three service aces, did not commit an error the entire Saturday and, combined with her 13-0-19 line against Anchorage, hit a whopping .636 on the day.
Chaminade held the Nanooks (1-3) to a minus-.025 attack percentage. The Silverswords were the only undefeated team in the tournament. Hawai'i Hilo was 2-2 while Alaska Anchorage finished 1-3.
The 39 total match points surrendered is also tied for the fourth-fewest in program history since the 25-point system was implemented in 2008. They also held Holy Names to just 39 back in 2019.
"I'm very proud of our team," head coach
Kahala Kabalis Hoke said. "They worked very hard during this tournament to improve each time they stepped on the court."
After a very competitive start to the match which was tied at 12, the 'Swords did not allow a natural point the rest of the way, outscoring them, 13-5. Corti had seven kills in the first set alone, hitting .778 on nine attempts and no errors.
The Silverswords rolled in the second set, leading as many as 23-8 at one point. They held the Nanooks to a negative hitting percentage (-.111) with just five kills and eight attack errors in the set.
It was much of the same in the third with a 10-2 surge followed by a match-ending 6-0 run. The 'Swords hit .619 in the final set and held UAF to minus-.043.
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) had four total blocks including two solo,
Hula Crisostomo (Honolulu/Univ. of Texas El Paso/Moanalua HS) had 13 digs and
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) dished out 23 assists.
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS), who began her college career playing on the same floor for three years, had three kills and two blocks against her former team.
Chaminade tallied 35 assists, 31 digs, 11 aces and six total team blocks. Alaska totaled 19 kills, 17 assists and 25 digs.
Although the team was in a celebratory mood following the win, the attention quickly went reverted back to those back home affected by the recent wildfires in Lahaina, Maui. Chaminade currently has four current student-athletes in all sports who call the Valley Island home.
"Please continue to send your thoughts and prayers to those who have lost so many in Lahaina and all part of Maui who've been affected by the fires," Kabalis Hoke said in asking those to continue to donate to those in need. "If you're able, please send donations to the Red Cross or any other reputable organizations because the devastation is surreal."
The Silverswords make their home debut next weekend in the Hawai'i Challenge at McCabe Gymnasium, a joint tournament co-hosted by Hawai'i Pacific University. The Challenge begins Thursday with No. 23 Cal Poly Pomona facing American International. Chaminade's first home match is Friday against Simon Fraser.
