COSTA MESA, Calif. – It might be safe to say that the early season woes for the Chaminade University women's volleyball team might very well be behind them.
In a matchup of two of the longest winning streaks in the Pacific West Conference this season, the Silverswords outlasted Vanguard University in four sets, 26-24, 14-25, 27-25, 29-27, at the Freed Center.
After an uncharacteristic 0-4 start to the year, the 'Swords improved to 9-7 overall by extending their winning streak to six matches while ending the Lions' streak which was seven straight entering Saturday. The victory was also their 29th straight PacWest victory with their last defeat in the conference coming in October 2023.
Alizaysha Sopi (Waianae, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Tennessee State University/Kapolei HS) put down a team-high 14 kills while
Audrah Johnson (Nampa, Idaho/Utah State University/Nampa HS) added 13.
Lillie Hinton (Spicewood, Texas/Lake Travis) tallied her third double-double this season with 11 kills, a season-best 15 digs and five blocks, which matched a season high.
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) contributed with nine kills and four blocks.
Allexis Iramina (Honolulu/Moanalua) had 26 assists, one shy of her career-high, and added 10 digs with
Lilinoe Paschoal (Wailuku, Maui, Hawai'i/Baldwin) dishing out 21 assists.
Sina Bauer (Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany/Maximillian-von-Montgelas Gymnasium Vilsbiburg) tied Hinton's team high with 15 digs with 11 more from
Kyra Pagud (Honolulu/Moanalua).
Adeline Galvanoni had a match-high 16 kills for Vanguard, which dropped its first home match this season in falling to 9-2 and 1-1 in the PacWest.
Chaminade seemed to grab early control of the match, leading by as many as 23-17. But the Lions roared back and staved off four set points before the 'Swords finally finished the deed on the fifth set point on a Sopi solo block.
Vanguard's momentum seemed to carry into the second set, tying the match with a decisive Set 2.
The final two sets was nothing short of thrilling with a total of 32 ties and 14 lead changes. In the crucial third set, the Lions had two shots at set point while the 'Swords also had a pair but managed to convert the winner on Paschoal's ace.
The fourth set was a virtual carbon copy of the third. VU had three chances to force a fifth set but CUH kept fighting back.
Tabby Allen (Leander, Texas/Rouse) and
Beele Wieczorek (Wiesbaden, Germany/Elly-Heuss School) teamed for a block, setting up their second aloha ball chance at 28-27. Johnson followed by hammering down the winner.
The 'Swords had 58 kills on 55 assists while hitting .214. They had 73 digs, five aces and 10 total team blocks. Vanguard hit .182 with 55 kills, 52 assists, 62 digs, nine aces and five blocks.
The Silverswords conclude their southern California road trip with a conference match Monday at CUI with match time at 4 p.m. Hawai'i time.
