HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team ended their four-match home stand Monday with a much-needed four-set win over Vanguard University at McCabe Gymnasium.
Lillie Hinton (Spicewood, Texas/Lake Travis) led a trio of Silverswords with double-digit kills in their 22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-14 triumph to help soothe the bitter five-set losses in their previous two matches and complete the season sweep of the Lions.
Hinton slammed down 13 kills while
Tabby Allen (Leander, Texas/Rouse) added 12 more and
Beele Wieczorek (Wiesbaden, Germany/Elly-Heuss School) another 10 as the 'Swords went 2-2 on their home stand. Hinton added eight digs and, along with Allen, added two service aces.
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) chipped in with six kills and three blocks.
Chaminade improved to 11-10 and 5-6 in the Pacific West Conference while still keeping their hopes alive for one of the four berths to next month's PacWest Championships hosted by Vanguard. The 'Swords are currently four games behind No. 4 Point Loma (7-2) with seven contests remaining.
Lilinoe Paschoal (Paukukalo, Maui, Hawai'i/Baldwin) had 36 assists, her first 30-plus match since Sept. 17, while continuing her torrid run at the service line with four aces, giving her 10 in her last two matches. Her 46 aces are currently second in the conference while Chaminade recorded a season-high 14 aces, its fifth straight in double digits.
Kyra Pagud (Honolulu/Moanalua) compiled 10 digs for CUH.
Haylee Long paced the Lions (5-13, 3-8 PacWest) with 11 kills.
For the fifth time in their last six matches, the 'Swords lost the opening set, evoking memories of Set 1 losses to Westmont and Biola during the home stand. Chaminade was in danger of dropping the second set, trailing 23-21. After a 'Swords' timeout, Vanguard, which upset Chaminade at McCabe Gym last season, opened the door with a service error. Hinton and Krueger knotted it at 23 with a block followed by a Hinton kill and a Lions' attack error on set point with the 4-0 run giving the frame to the home team.
The rally was the momentum changer the Silverswords needed, opening up an 8-4 lead to start Set 3. A 7-2 run later in the frame increased the lead to 19-10 enroute to a convincing win to take the lead.
A 14-5 surge midway through the fourth set helped the 'Swords earn the much-needed win.
Chaminade hit a season-high .351 with 49 kills on 47 assists, 44 digs and four total team blocks. Vanguard was held to a .121 percentage with 36 kills, 32 assists, 43 digs, four aces and three total team blocks.
The Silverswords embark on their final mainland road trip of the regular season, a three-match voyage to Santa Barbara then to the Northern California area starting next Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Westmont College, a rematch of last Friday's five-set defeat.
