HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team opened the 2024 regular season Thursday with a 25-15, 30-28, 25-15 win over the University of Alaska Anchorage in the first match of the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge at McCabe Gymnasium.
Graduate transfer Letitiza Cammilllucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asota HS) put down a match-high 15 kills for the 12th-ranked Silverswords, who won their sixth straight Challenge match dating back to 2022.
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Univ. of Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) added nine kills against the school with whom she began her collegiate career with. Freshman
Erica Roberts (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) tacked on eight kills and two blocks while
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) added seven kills.
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS), making her first start at setter since the 2021 season as an Oklahoma Sooner, had 21 assists and 10 digs while
Kyra Pagud (Honolulu/Moanalua) had a team-high 11 digs.
Larssen Anderson led the Seawolves (0-1) with nine kills.
After a set-ending 8-2 run that gave the 'Swords a one-set lead, the second went to extra points with CUH staving off two set-points while getting three on their own. On their fourth try at set point, Talpash's dump shot put the home team up by two sets.
Cammillucci's three kills keyed a 9-1 Silverswords run early in the third set to help them capture their fifth season-opener in the past seven years.
Chaminade out-hit Alaska Anchorage .230-.118 and amassed 50 kills to the Seawolves' 26.
The 'Swords return to McCabe Gym tonight and face the University of Alaska in their second Challenge match.
