HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team on Thursday opened the Aloha State Showdown with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 loss to Western Washington University at McCabe Gymnasium.
Malena Mihalik (Santa Fe, Argentina/San Eugenio) had a team-high 11 kills for the 24th-ranked Silverswords, who were swept at home for the second straight match, the first such occurrence since October 2013.
Audrah Johnson (Nampa, Idaho/Utah State University/Nampa HS) added eight kills with
Lillie Hinton (Spicewood, Texas/Lake Travis) and
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) combining for 11 kills and eight blocks.
Lilinoe Paschoal (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/Baldwin) had 17 assists for 'Swords (2-6) while
Allexis Iramina (Honolulu/Moanalua) had 12 assists, one shy of her career high set in 2023.
Making her second career start,
Kyra Pagud (Honolulu/Moanalua) had 15 digs for Chaminade with
Sina Bauer (Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany/Maximillian-von-Montgelas Gymnasium Vilsbiburg) getting 14 more.
Devyn Oestreich had 12 kills and 25 digs for Western Washington, among those receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division II Poll. The Vikings (4-1) lead the all-time series, 3-1, with Chaminade's only win against WWU coming in 1999.
Western Washington's 10-4 run midway in the first set helped them take the match lead, which was followed by a 9-2 surge which turned a one-point deficit into a two-set lead.
CUH managed to force a 20-all tie in its must-win third set but WWU surged ahead for a 23-20 edge to capture the match.
The 'Swords hit .146 while the Vikings hit .221 and had eight service aces to Chaminade's three.
The Silverswords continue the Aloha State Showdown on Friday when they face Central Washington at McCabe Gym at 5 p.m. CWU faces Florida Tech to open the afternoon at 12 p.m.
