SAN DIEGO – Friday was the most anticipated battle that fans were waiting for.
No, not the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match in Dallas.
It was the irresistible force against the immovable object with the AVCA's No. 7-ranked Chaminade University and 13th-ranked Point Loma volleyball teams, the final two undefeated squads in the Pacific West Conference and the latest two conference unbeatens with double-digit wins have faced each other.
When the dust settled at Point Loma's Golden Gymnasium, it was the Silverswords who came out ahead with a 25-16, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21 victory.
Letizia Cammillucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asosta HS) put down a match-high 17 kills with 10 digs, her seventh double-doublt, to help the Silverswords wrap up their four-match southern California road trip by extending their program-record win streak to 15 and improve to 25-4 on the year and 18-0 in the PacWest. They also ended a three-match skid to the Sea Lions while winning their 24th straight conference match.
Anna Stucchi (Roncello, Italy/Santa Clara University/I.I.S. Ezio Vanoni HS) added 12 kills while
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) tacked on 11 more and three service aces.
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) put down eight attacks with four blocks with
Malena Mihalik (Santa Fe, Argentina/San Eugenio) contributing with five kills and three aces.
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) dished out 47 assists and added five more kills while
Nanna Inoue (Kula, Maui, Hawai'i/Tyler JC/King Kekaulike HS) had 20 digs.
Abigail Nua had 16 kills for Point Loma, which saw its 22-match winning streak snapped to fall to 22-1 and 16-1 in the conference.
After a tight start to the opening set, the 'Swords used an 8-3 run thanks in part to two Mihalik aces and one from Inoue to increase their lead to 19-13. CUH scored six of the set's final eight points for a convincing first-set win.
The Sea Lions responded in the second set, using a 6-0 run early in the frame to grab as many as a 19-13 edge. The 'Swords would crawl back before Point Loma closed out the set to tie the match at 1.
Chaminade opened up a 17-11 lead in the third set but seven attack and reception errors opened the door for PLNU to go up 21-19. The 'Swords had a reply of their own with kills from Mihalik, Stucchi and two from Cammillucci for set point at 24-23. Lopez and Ka'apuni then pushed back Nua's attack to give them a two-sets-to-one advantage.
Point Loma seemed poised to send the match into a decisive fifth set, grabbing a 17-12 edge. However, Ka'apuni put down a kill and ace, Stucchi slammed two of her own and a Sea Lions' attack error put Chaminade up 18-17. With the set tied at 20, Cammillucci gave CUH a 21-20 edge followed by career ace No. 118 from
Kendall Rios (Tustin, Calif./Foothill). A Sea Lions' hitting error put the 'Swords up 23-20 and, after a Point Loma kill, Cammillucci put down her final kill to set up aloha ball. Ka'apuni launched a shot through a double-block effort which fell for the final point.
Chaminade hit a healthy .318 in the match and held Point Loma to a .208 average while out-blocking them, 8-to-6. The Sea Lions entered the match leading the conference in percentage (.262) and blocks (2.62). The 'Swords totaled 58 kills on 55 assists, 51 digs and 11 aces. Point Loma had 47 kills, 44 assists, 47 digs and 10 aces.
The Silverswords will return home for their final home match of the season when they face in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific University next Thursday at McCabe Gymnasium. It will be Aloha Senior Night where the 'Swords will honor their seniors and can also clinch a share of the PacWest title. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
