HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team made it a Thursday clean sweep of the Alaska universities after a 25-18, 20-25, 25-16, 25-15 win over the University of Alaska at McCabe Gymnasium.
Just a few short hours after dispatching the University of Alaska Anchorage earlier in the afternoon, the Silverswords got another productive outing from San Jose State transfer
Letizia Cammillucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asosta HS), who put down a match-high 16 kills with seven blocks and three digs.
Fellow transfer
Anna Stucchi (Roncello, Italy/Santa Clara University/I.I.S. Ezio Vanoni HS) added 10 kills and three more blocks in helping Chaminade, ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Division II Top 25 Poll, improve to 2-0 and extending their winning streak in the Challenge to seven straight. Cammillucci and Stucchi hit a combined .386 on the evening.
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) put down nine kills in hitting .500 while also accumulating three total blocks.
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) got her second start in as many matches, leading with 25 assists and eight digs with
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) adding another 15 assists and seven digs.
Kyra Pagud (Honolulu/Moanalua) scooped up 11 digs, matching her total from the Anchorage match, which is a career high.
Rilee White led the Nanooks (0-1) with 13 kills while Karli Nielson had 12.
Chaminade ended the opening set with six straight points but Alaska rallied in the second, hitting .452 to even the match.
Trailing 10-9 midway through the third set, the 'Swords used an 8-1 run as Cammillucci and Stucchi combined for five points, helping go up two-sets-to-one.
The 'Swords slammed the door shut early in the fourth, taking a 14-5 lead early.
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) accounted for all four of CUH's final Set 4 points with three kills and a block.
Chaminade hit .347 on the evening with 56 kills, 49 assists, 55 digs and seven total team blocks. UAF was held to a .195 attack percentage with 48 kills, 39 assists, 47 digs and five team blocks. Both squads had seven service aces.
The Silverswords will next hit the road for perhaps one of their most challenging non-conference stretches in program history, starting with the Yotes Classic in San Bernardino, California. All four of their opponents are ranked, starting with No. 21 Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday, Sept. 5, with a Sept. 6 date with defending Division II national champion and AVCA preseason No. 1 Cal State Los Angeles. No. 10 St. Cloud State and No. 8 Cal State San Bernardino are also on the docket.
The McCabe Gym portion of the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge concludes Friday at noon when the University of Hawai'i Hilo faces the Nanooks at noon. The other half of the Challenge continues through Saturday at Hawai'i Pacific University's Shark Tank.
