HONOLULU – The Chaminade University beach volleyball team made a successful first-season debut Saturday, downing Hawai'i Pacific University, 4-1, at Queens Beach in Waikiki, the first-ever NCAA match for both programs.
The Silverswords (1-0) took Pairings 2 through 4 while Pairing 1 went down to a thrilling finish.
Chaminade's No. 5 squad of
Kanoelehua Misipeka (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Liberty North (Kan.) and
DeLaney Poling (Gilbert, Ariz./Park Univ./Perry HS) was the first team to finish their flight, defeating Kylie Komo and Ella Dotson, 21-14 and 21-12.
That was followed by
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) and
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) who won their pairing at Flight 4, 21-12 and 21-11.
The 'Swords clinched the match when the Pairing 3 team of
Sophie Schilling (Berlin, Germany/Alaska/Schul- and Leistungsportszentrum Berlin HS) and
Elli Tsukano (Austin, Texas/James Bowie) scored a 21-14 and 21-15 win.
Meanwhile, CUH's second team of
Greta Corti (Varese, Italy/Univ. of San Francisco/Alessandro Manzoni Liceo HS) and
Hula Crisostomo (Honolulu/Univ. of Texas El Paso/Moanalua HS) won their matchup, 21-16 and 21-9.
HPU's win came in perhaps the most hotly contested pairing of the day in Flight 1 with Erika Markentin and Kate Allen downing
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) and
Malena Mihalik (Santa Fe, Argentina/San Eugenio), 21-19 and 30-28.
The 'Swords and Sharks also had 19 other exhibition matches between players who did not have countable pairings. In all, Chaminde took 20 wins to three losses and one draw.
The Silverswords are next in action in the Heineken Queens Cup, hosted by the University of Hawai'i, at Queens Beach from March 7-9. The 'Swords will meet Pepperdine, Saint Mary's, Nebraska and Boise State, all Division I squads, followed by the bracket stage on the final day.
