HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team opened up their three-match home stand Friday, falling to interstate rival University of Hawai'i Hilo in four sets, 25-23, 25-17, 24-26, 25-17, at McCabe Gymnasium, the 127th all-time meeting between the two programs.
Alizaysha Sopi (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Tennessee State University/Kapolei HS) put down 14 kills while
Maylynn Mitchell (Corona, Calif./Orange Lutheran) added 12 more for the Silverswords, who have been ravaged by injury to their outside hitting unit in recent weeks. Chaminade's fourth straight loss dropped them to 11-11 on the season.
The positive for the 'Swords was the match was designated non-conference, keeping their Pacific West Conference record at 5-1. Chaminade had already captured the conference meeting on Oct. 4 in Hilo. Friday's match, however, did count towards the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge competition.
Audrah Johnson (Nampa, Idaho/Utah State University/Nampa HS) contributed with nine kills while the 'Swords got a big contribution off the bench from
Mykelle Brainard (Carlsbad, Calif./Pacific Ridge), who tallied a career-high eight in the final two sets.
Lilinoe Paschoal (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/Baldwin) and
Allexis Iramina (Honolulu/Moanalua) combined for 43 assists with Johnson and
Kyra Pagud (Honolulu/Moanalua) each getting 13 digs.
Tabby Allen (Leander, Texas/Rouse) had four service aces to increase her PacWest lead to 41 on the season.
Malu Garcia put down 12 kills for the Vulcans (14-7) who snapped their eight-match losing streak in the series.
Early on, the Silverswords appeared to have brushed off Wednesday's loss at Hawai'i Pacific University by opening up an 18-11 lead. But Vulcans staged a furious rally via a 12-2 run that helped them take the first set.
Chaminade led just once early in the next set as the Vulcans pulled away midway to win the frame.
The 'Swords seemed to have righted the ship in the third set, opening up a 19-11 edge. But like they did in the first set, UH Hilo mounted a comeback and caught CUH at 23-all. Brainard, who started the third, put down her fifth kill to set up set point where Johnson hammered down an attack to force a fourth set.
But UH Hilo had too much momentum, breaking an 11-11 tie in the set with an 8-2 run to ensure the win.
In a virtual carbon copy of Wednesday's loss at HPU, Chaminade amassed more kills than UH Hilo, (56-43), assists (53-38) and digs (56-47). However, the 'Swords committed 32 hitting errors to Hilo's 10 and had 14 service errors to their seven.
Chaminade had just three total team blocks, its fourth straight match in single digits, which has coincided with their slide. The team had double-digit blocks in their previous seven of 10 matches prior to their current losing streak. Meanwhile, UH Hilo had nine blocks.
With their run of three straight non-conference matches over, the Silverswords' next four contests will all count towards the PacWest standings, starting Thursday against Westmont College at McCabe Gym. Start time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
