HONOLULU – The Chaminade University beach volleyball team on Thursday defeated Hawai'i Pacific University, 4-1, in the final match of the season for both teams at Hunakai Park.
The win saw the Silverswords conclude their second season as a program at 5-7 while the Sharks ended theirs at 0-10. The 'Swords have won all 10 meetings dating back to the start of the 2024 season, which was the inaugural season for both schools.
After HPU took a 1-0 lead by winning Flight 5 in three sets, Chaminade tied it thanks to a 22-20, 21-19 win by
Kanoelehua Misipeka (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Liberty North, Mo.) and
Kendall Rios (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) in Pairing 4.
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) and
Grace Talpash (Temecula, Calif./University of Oklahoma/Great Oak HS) gave CUH a 2-1 lead with a straight set, 21-16, 21-9 win over Kate Allen and Dana Nyugen in the No. 1 Flight.
Needing to win one of the final two flights to clinch the match,
Letizia Cammillucci (Padova, Italy/San Jose State/Liceo Amedeo di Savoia Duca D'asosta HS) and
Anna Stucchi (Roncello, Italy/Santa Clara University/I.I.S. Ezio Vanoni HS) fell behind after losing their first set to Lauren Harris and Ella Schoene, 21-12, in Pairing 2. However, the duo rallied to win the second set, 21-14, then took the third, 15-8, to clinch the Silverswords' match win.
Nanna Inoue (Kula, Maui, Hawai'i/Tyler JC/King Kekaulike HS) and
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS) rounded out the competition with a 21-14, 22-20 win in the No. 3 flight over Riley Komo and Lindsey Tapp.
In a non-counting exhibition match,
Sina Bauer (Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany/Maximillian-von-Montgelas Gymnasium Vilsbiburg) and
Lillie Hinton (Spicewood, Texas/Lake Travis) downed Jennivev Reyes and Elizabeth Borgelt in straight sets, 21-13 and 21-17.
The Silverswords also honored their seven seniors following the match; Cammillucci, Inoue, Ka'apuni, Rios, Stucchi, Talpah and
Brooklyn Poling (Gilbert, Ariz./Western Carolina Univ./Perry HS).
