HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team rallied from a two-sets-to-none deficit to visiting Biola University Thursday but ultimately fell in the fifth and decided set, 25-22, 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 15-10, in front of a vocal 'White Out' crowd at McCabe Gymnasium.
Lillie Hinton (Spicewood, Texas/Lake Travis) put down a match-high 16 kills while
Beele Wieczorek (Wiesbaden, Germany/Elly-Heuss School) and
Allison Panter (Denver, Colo./Portland State University/Denver School of Science and Technology HS) both set career highs in kills in extremely humid conditions which required constant floor maintenance throughout the evening.
Wieczorek, in just her fourth match of the season, slammed down 13 kills with a .407 hitting percentage with Panter adding 12 kills, 11 digs, five blocks (also a career-high) and two service aces. Hinton added a career-best four aces, giving her seven in the last two matches.
Tabby Allen (Leander, Texas/Rouse) chipped in with eight kills.
Anna Karasinska (Nowa Ruda, Poland/Il Licem Ogolnoksztalcase IM) pushed back a career-best four opponent attacks with
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) adding three blocks.
Shannon Sheehy (Phoenix, Ariz./University of San Francisco/Sandra Day O'Connor HS) dished out a career-high 21 assists with
Kyra Pagud (Honolulu/Moanalua) scooping up 28 digs for the Silverswords (10-9, 4-5 Pacific West Conference), who lost at home for the first time this season.
Haylee LaFontaine had 13 kills for Biola (13-4, 8-2 PacWest), which did not have the services of Julia Van Ommering, the PacWest's second-leading attacker at 3.72 kills per set entering the evening, due to an injury. The Eagles defeated the 'Swords for the third straight meeting and swept the season series.
After dropping the first two sets, the 'Swords nearly surrendered a late 20-14 lead which dwindled to little as a single digit at 24-23 but Panter forced extra sets with her fifth kill of the frame.
CUH never trailed in the fourth set with the help of a balanced attack of Allen, Panter and Wieczorek combining for seven of the team's nine kills while holding Biola to a .000 hitting percentage.
In the decisive fifth set, the Silverswords' early four-point run was nullified by Biola's match-ending 10-3 run.
Chaminade hit .196 with 55 kills, 51 assists, 76 digs, 10 aces and 10 total team blocks. Biola hit .140 with 54 kills, 48 assists, 80 digs, seven aces and eight team blocks.
The Silverswords will have a quick turnaround with a Friday match against Westmont College at McCabe Gym, their first home conference matches in consecutive days this season. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
