HONOLULU – The 12th-ranked Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Saturday rebounded from Thursday's upset loss to Point Loma by clawing past Azusa Pacific, 25-15, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22 at McCabe Gymnasium.
Ajack Malual (Rome, Italy/Tambosi ETI) put down a match-high 15 kills with three blocks while hitting .333, two days after the Sea Lions held her to a season-worst -.030 attack percentage.
Brooklyn Poling (Gilbert, Ariz./Western Carolina Univ./Perry HS) came off the bench and registered a season-high seven kills, as did
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS), to help the Silverswords improve to 13-1 overall and 2-1 in the Pacific West Conference.
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 had six kills, tying a season-best for the latter. Schilling also had a block solo and block assist.
Annaka Jorgenson had nine kills for Azusa Pacific, which fell to 6-6 and 3-1 in the PacWest. After the Cougars won 13 of the first 14 meetings after joining the PacWest, the 'Swords have reversed the trend, winning their fifth straight in the series.
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) dished out 26 assists while
Allexis Iramina (Honolulu/Moanalua) added 13 while
Hula Crisostomo (Honolulu/Univ. of Texas El Paso/Moanalua HS) came up with 25 digs followed by Ama's 12.
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS) served up three service aces while freshman middle blocker
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) got her first career start and led the 'Swords with four total blocks.
Chaminade came out firing in the first set, jumping out to a 20-8 lead and had 10 natural points before APU could get its first.
But the Cougars answered in the second set, using a 5-0 run midway through to help win the set and square the match.
Chaminade managed to grab the lead early in the third set and, despite Azusa Pacific staying within three points for much of the frame, scored five of the set's final six points to go up, 2-1.
Leading for much of the early portions of the fourth set, APU threatened to send the match to a fifth, holding on to a 14-12 edge. A 6-0 CUH surge would put them up 18-14 but the Cougars rallied, closing to within 23-22. Campbell's final kill of the evening set up aloha ball and Malual slammed down the winner to give the 'Swords the win.
Chaminade hit .237 on the night and held APU to a .190 percentage. The 'Swords totaled 51 kills, 46 assists, 58 digs, 10 aces and six total team blocks while Azusa Pacific had 39 kills, 38 assists, 38 digs, four aces and five total blocks.
The Silverswords will wrap up their home stand Sunday when Concordia visits McCabe Gymnasium. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
