AZUSA, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Saturday wrapped up the Cal Poly Pomona/Azusa Pacific Crossover Tournament with a 25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 25-15 win over Cal State East Bay at APU's Felix Event Center.
Ajack Malual (Rome, Italy/Tambosi ETI) tied her career high with 19 kills which she previously set less than 24 hours earlier against Northwest Nazarene.
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) also set a career standard, putting down 16 kills, passing her previous high of 15 she set in the non-championship spring 2021 season while a member of the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS) added 11 digs and 14 digs, her fifth double-double this season to help the Silverswords close out the non-conference portion of their slate undefeated at 11-0.
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) contributed with six kills and four total blocks, three of them solo.
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) dished out 45 assists and had 11 digs while also putting down five kills.
Hula Crisostomo (Honolulu/Univ. of Texas El Paso/Moanalua HS) led the match with 24 digs along with three service aces.
Lexi Pagani led the Pioneers (4-3) with 10 kills.
Leading 9-8 in the opening set, the 'Swords used a 10-2 run, spurred by Lopez's two kills and two blocks while Malual had three kills in the span which enabled them to take the first.
Ka'apuni put down three kills during a 7-1 run midway through the second set to help Chaminade take an 18-13 edge, although CSU East Bay would close to within two points before the set ended on a service error.
Like they did Friday against Northwest Nazarene, the 'Swords found themselves on the brink, trailing 22-16 at the end of the third set. However, Corti began a 6-0 surge with consecutive kills while Malual's spike tied it at 22. However, it wasn't enough to complete the comeback as CSUEB managed to stave off the sweep.
Early in Set 4, CUH used a 6-0 run to rally from a 4-1 deficit. From there, the Silverswords did not allow the Pioneers to score a natural point the remainder of the match and Crisostomo ended the match with consecutive aces.
Chaminade hit .214 in the match and held the Pioneers to a .104 percentage. The 'Swords had a decisive edge in kills (61-to-32), assists (54-to-28) and digs (72-to-48). Aces were even at eight while the Pioneers had the blocking advantage, 8-to-6.
The Silverswords will now begin the task of defending their status as the two-time defending league champions when they open Pacific West Conference play Thursday at crosstown rival Hawai'i Pacific University at the HPU Shark Tank. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
