Talpash Earns PacWest Honor, VB Remains 10th in Poll

Chaminade University setter Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) on Monday was named the Pacific West Conference Player of the Week while the Silverswords remain at No. 10 in the AVCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.
 
Talpash, in her second season with the 'Swords, delivered 77 assists over the weekend, including a career-high 49 in Saturday's win over Azusa Pacific. She added 15 digs and nine kills to help the 'Swords remain undefeated in PacWest action at 8-0. With a 15-4 mark, Chaminade is just four away from the program's 500th win all-time.
 
In her second season with the team, the graduate transfer is third in the PacWest in assists per set at a 9.03 clip. It is her first career weekly conference honor.
 
UH Hilo was the Team of the Week while Vulcans' libero Tani Hoke was the conference's Defender of the Week.
 
In the AVCA Poll, the 'Swords remain in the 10th spot for the second consecutive week. The University of Tampa remains in the poll's top spot. There was just one change in the top 10, with Cal Poly Pomona and Wayne State of Nebraska swapping spots at Nos. 6 and 8, respectively.
 
Fellow conference opponent Point Loma moved up one spot to No. 16. The 'Swords will face the Sea Lions on Nov. 15 in the only meeting this season. Other west region squads in this week's poll are Cal State Los Angeles at No. 20 while San Francisco State made their debut at No. 22.
 
It is rivalry week for the Silverswords, who will face both island foes this weekend. The 'Swords will be at Hawai'i Pacific University (1-13, 1-7 PacWest) on Friday. Then on Saturday, Chaminade hosts UH Hilo (12-6) at McCabe Gymnasium. The Vulcans are off to a hot PacWest start, sitting at 7-1 in the conference and have won seven straight. First serve on Saturday is 3 p.m. Both matches will count towards the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge.