ROCKLIN, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team continued their northern California road swing Thursday, sweeping past Pacific West Conference newcomer Jessup University, 25-15, 31-29, 25-23, at Warrior Arena.
Anna Stucchi (Roncello, Italy/Santa Clara University/I.I.S. Ezio Vanoni HS) paced the No. 9 Silverswords with 10 kills and two blocks while
Malena Mihalik (Santa Fe, Argentina/San Eugenio) put down nine more kills and 11 digs in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) added eight kills with
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) getting six more to help the Silverswords improve to 12-4 overall and 4-0 in the PacWest and also win their 51st straight match against PacWest NorCal opponents dating back to 2017.
In addition to her five kills,
Letizia Cammillucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asosta HS) also had 11 digs, three service aces and two blocks while
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) dished out 32 assists.
Taylor MacCuish had 10 kills for Jessup (5-6, 1-3 PacWest), the northern-most institution in the conference, located some 20 miles northeast of Sacramento and a two-hour drive from Oakland.
After a rather inconspicuous start of the first set in trailing 7-2, the 'Swords went on a 10-1 run, paced by Mihalik (three kills) and Stucchi (two kills and a block) during the stretch. After seeing Jessup close to 12-11, CUH went on another surge, this time a run of six straight points to help them pull away.
Jessup's 9-0 run help give them a 23-19 second-set lead and had set-point at 24-22 before a Stucchi kill tied it at 24. The Warriors staved off five set-points before the sixth time was the charm for the Silverswords with Cammillucci ending it on an ace, putting them up two-sets-to-none. Their 31 points in a single set is also the most by the program since the sport went to a 25-point scoring system in 2008.
Chaminade appeared on its way to cruise to the sweep with a 20-12 lead in Set 3 but the Warriors rallied, cutting the deficit to 23-22. However, the 'Swords forced two attack errors for their 24th and 25th points to earn the sweep.
The 'Swords hit .230 and held the Warriors to a .077 hitting percentage, putting down 44 kills with 42 assists, 45 digs, seven aces and five team blocks. Jessup had 29 kills, 28 assists, 43 digs, six aces and five blocks.
The Silverswords wrap up their road trip Saturday, moving from the northern end of PacWest territory to the Central Valley at Fresno Pacific. First serve is set for 11 a.m. Hawai'i time.
