SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Saturday put an emphatic wrap to the Yotes Classic Showcase by sweeping host Cal State San Bernardino, the eight-ranked squad in the AVCA Division II Poll, at Coussoulis Arena.
Anna Stucchi (Roncello, Italy/Santa Clara University/I.I.S. Ezio Vanoni HS), who was named to the all-tournament team, put down a team-high 12 kills while hitting .611 and adding four blocks in the Silverswords' 25-18, 25-16, 25-23, win, the team's first over the Coyotes since the 1991 season. Stucchi totaled 45 kills and 14 blocks while hitting .462 in the tournament.
Letizia Cammillucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asosta HS) was also named to the all-tournament team after putting down five kills with four service aces against the Yotes.
After suffering defeats to Cal Poly Pomona and St. Cloud State to open the tournament, it was a satisfying finish for the No. 12 Silverswords, who swept top-ranked Cal State Los Angeles 24 hours earlier. Chaminade, which improved to 4-2, finished the Showcase tied with CSULA and CSUSB with 2-2 tournament records. Cal Poly Pomona won all four of its matches while St. Cloud State finished 3-1.
Cal Poly Pomona's Caitie Mueller was named the Showcase Most Valuable Player.
Malena Mihalik (Santa Fe, Argentina/San Eugenio) added 11 kills and 11 digs for the 'Swords.
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) and
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) added six kills each.
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) had 28 assists with
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) adding eight more.
Nanna Inoue (Kula, Maui, Hawai'i/Tyler JC/King Kekaulike HS) provided 10 digs.
Ashley Robinson led CSU San Bernardino (2-2) with 15 kills.
Chaminade faced an early 9-4 deficit in the first set but Camillucci made seven straight trips to the service line, tying the set at 10. Later with the 'Swords holding on to an 18-16 edge, Camillucci again made camp at the service line, with five consecutive trips, giving them a 22-17 lead and, ultimately, the first set victory.
In the second set, an 8-2 run broke open an 8-8 tie which helped the Silverswords to pull away and, capped by Mihalik's ace, gave them a two-set lead.
Chaminade appeared to be pulling away in the third set, holding a 20-16 lead but the Yotes clawed back to tie it at 21. The score would be knotted at 22 and 23 before Ka'apuni's kill set up aloha ball. Cammillucci ended it with a hard spike down the line to secure the team's second consecutive win over a top-10 opponent.
The 'Swords hit .330 during the match, putting down 49 kills with 46 digs, seven aces and five team blocks. The Yotes hit .245, put down 37 kills and 39 digs, three aces and five blocks.
The Silverswords will return to the islands for a few days then get back on a plane, traveling to Denver, Colorado, next weekend to participate in the Colorado Premier Challenge, considered to be Division II's top preseason volleyball tournament.
The 'Swords will open pool play on Friday morning against Wayne State University, currently ranked No. 4 in the poll and one of the eight teams in last year's NCAA Division II Championship, then Wheeling University in the afternoon. Bracket play is on Saturday. Two other squads from the NCAA's final eight – Missouri-St. Louis and West Texas A&M – are also participants.
