HONOLULU – Halloween nearly became too scary for the Chaminade University women's volleyball team.
The Silverswords found themselves down two-sets-to-one to Fresno Pacific University on Halloween Thursday before rallying to win the match in five, 25-19, 16-25, 23-25, 25-9, 15-11, at McCabe Gymnasium.
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) slammed down 17 kills and had three service aces – both tying her career highs – while
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) and
Anna Stucchi (Roncello, Italy/Santa Clara University/I.I.S. Ezio Vanoni HS) added 10 more kills each, the former getting three blocks.
The 'Swords, ranked No. 7 in the AVCA Top 25 Poll, won their 10th straight in improving to 20-4 on the season, marking their sixth consecutive 20-win season (not counting the COVID-shortened spring 2021 season). They also remained undefeated in the Pacific West Conference at 13-0, marking the best conference start in team history, surpassing the 2019 squad that had won its first 12 PacWest matches. They also won their 19th straight conference match dating back to last season, tying the same mark that was set at the end of 2021 and into the start of 2022.
The win also kept Chaminade a half-game over undefeated Point Loma (12-0 PacWest) who swept Vanguard earlier in the afternoon. The Silverswords also won their 16th straight match over Fresno Pacific, the team's longest active winning streak against a single opponent.
Malena Mihalik (Santa Fe, Argentina/San Eugenio) added nine kills with a team-best four aces.
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) dished out 47 sets and had a career-high 14 digs, one of four 'Swords who had double-digits digs.
Nanna Inoue (Kula, Maui, Hawai'i/Tyler JC/King Kekaulike HS) had a team-high 22 digs with Mihalik getting 16 and 15 from
Letizia Cammillucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asosta HS).
The Sunbirds (13-10, 8-7 PacWest), who reverse-swept Hawai'i Pacific University on Wednesday, got 16 kills from Mia Gilcrest while they also out-blocked the Silverswords, 14-to-5.
The 'Swords got five of their 10 aces in the opening set alone, two by Mihalik on back-to-back serves. Leading 24-15, FPU managed to stave off four set-points before a service error on the fifth set-point ended it.
But the Sunbirds used the momentum and a 9-0 run midway through the second set helped them tie the match at 1.
The third set was nothing short of a battle. The largest lead either team had was three by Fresno Pacific before Chaminade forced several ties down the stretch. The Sunbirds got it to 24-23 then got a set-ending block to take the lead after three sets.
With the match and their multiple winning streaks on the line, the 'Swords used two large runs – 6-0 in the beginning followed by 9-0 midway – to convincingly take the fourth set in a rout, forcing a decisive fifth.
Both squads jostled for position in the final set with Fresno Pacific taking its last lead at 6-5 then forced an 11-all tie. Lopez put down her final kill of the evening, putting CUH ahead, 12-11, then Ka'apuni took over, pounding down the final three kills of the match to give the 'Swords the heart-stopping victory.
Chaminade hit .208 in the match while Fresno Pacific hit .149. The Silverswords totaled 64 kills, 62 assists, 10 aces and 85 digs while the Sunbirds' tally was 47 kills, 40 assists and 66 digs.
The 'Swords will wrap up their five-match home stand Friday when they host Jessup University at McCabe Gym, which will also be Faculty Appreciation Night. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
