HONOLULU – There's no place like home. For the Chaminade University women's volleyball team, home in 2024 has for the most part been living out of suitcases.
On Friday, the 10th-ranked Silverswords returned to familiar territory for the first time in two weeks and celebrated their homecoming with a 25-18, 25-16, 25-18 victory over Westmont College.
The 'Swords, playing at McCabe Gymnasium for just the fifth time this season against 13 on the mainland, got yet another balanced attack with five players with five or more kills.
Letizia Cammillucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asosta HS) and
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) each put down nine kills while
Anna Stucchi (Roncello, Italy/Santa Clara University/I.I.S. Ezio Vanoni HS) added eight more.
Chaminade improved to 14-4 on the year and 7-0 in the Pacific West Conference to keep pace with Point Loma in the conference ledger.
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) chipped in with six kills while setter
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS), with her 28 assists and nine digs, had five kills of her own.
Cammillucci also had 11 digs and had six of the Silverswords' 11 service aces, which tied the career high she set in 2022 at San Jose State. Ka'apuni and Lopez accounted for all four of the 'Swords' blocks.
Westmont got seven kills from Sarah Krueger in falling to 7-7 and 2-5 in the PacWest.
In each of the three sets, the Warriors managed to hang around in the early stages before the Silverswords got key runs mid-set. In the first, it was runs of 5-0 midway and 5-1 late. The second set, it was another 5-1 run, and the third saw a 9-1 surge.
Fittingly, Cammillucci closed the door on the match with three consecutive aces to help Chaminade improve to 5-0 at home.
The 'Swords, who hit .272, held Westmont to a .047 attack percentage – 22 kills with 17 errors – while putting down 41 kills. They also had 32 assists and 41 digs. The Warriors managed five blocks to the 'Swords' two and had 42 digs.
The Silverswords are back in action Saturday when they face Azusa Pacific (10-5, 6-2 PacWest) in a key conference matchup at McCabe Gym. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
