SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Thursday opened the Yotes Classic Showcase at Coussoulis Arena with a 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 25-14 to Cal Poly Pomona in a matchup of AVCA nationally ranked teams.
The Silverswords, ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Preseason Poll, got a team-high 13 kills and a .435 attack percentage from
Anna Stucchi (Roncello, Italy/Santa Clara University/I.I.S. Ezio Vanoni HS) who suffered their first loss of the 2024 season, falling to 2-1.
Cal Poly Pomona, ranked 21st, got 21 kills from Sarah Ybarra, who also hit .409 on the evening. Combined with their sweep of No. 10 St. Cloud State earlier in the day, the Broncos improved to 2-0.
Chaminade also saw its four-match winning streak against the Broncos end, their first defeat to CPP since 2008.
Letizia Cammillucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asosta HS) added 12 kills for the Silverswords with
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) adding eight more.
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) had 30 assists, nine digs and three kills while Cammilucci led the 'Swords in the digs column with 13 followed by
Kyra Pagud (Honolulu/Moanalua) with 12.
The 'Swords had an opportunity to take the opening set with a 22-20 but the Broncos took five of the next seven points to steal the set.
A .432 hitting percentage in the second set and two total team blocks allowed Pomona to take a two-set lead. But Chaminade came out blazing in the third set and was on the verge of cruising to a comfortable margin. Up 24-16, the Broncos made the 'Swords nervous by staving off seven straight set points before an unforced error allowed them to escape.
But with the momentum having swung to the team wearing green, the Broncos opened up an 11-6 edge which later swelled to 20-10.
CUH hit just .189 and had just one service ace while CPP had a .295 attack percentage, eight aces and 11 total team blocks.
The Silverswords will look to rebound with two matches on Friday, starting with St. Cloud State at 9 a.m. Hawai'i time. That will be followed by a matchup against preseason No. 1 and defending Division II national champion Cal State Los Angeles at 2 p.m. HST.
