SALEM, Ore. – The Chaminade University beach volleyball team made history Friday, venturing to the continental United States for the first time in the three-year existence of the program.
Playing in frigid 40-degree weather, the Silverswords opened the Corban Invitational with a 4-1 defeat to NAIA power Southern Oregon to begin the day, handing the 'Swords their first loss of the season. Chaminade then fell to Sacramento State, 5-0, to finish the opening day, falling to 4-2 on the season.
Match 1: SOU 4, CUH 1
Facing the fourth ranked team in the NAIA, the Silverswords managed to force three pairings to a decisive third set.
Trailing 1-0, the 'Swords' No. 2 flight of
Kanoelehua Misipeka (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Liberty North, Mo.) and
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane), the latter making her season debut, took a 22-20, 18-21, 15-10 win over Kira Sandoval and Molly Grace which tied the match at 1.
After the Raiders took a 2-1 lead after a win in Flight 3, CUH's No. 5 squad of
Malena Mihalik (Santa Fe, Argentina/San Eugenio) and
Anna Karasinska (Nowa Ruda, Poland/Il Licem Ogolnoksztalcase IM) lost their first set to Natalie Perez and Kendal Hadwick, 21-13, before rallying to take the second, 21-19, forcing the first-to-15 final set. Chaminade came close to evening the overall match at 2 but couldn't pull it out in the end with a 15-12 defeat, clinching the match for SOU (1-0).
Chaminade's top flight of
Beele Wieczorek (Wiesbaden, Germany/Elly-Heuss School) and
Sina Bauer (Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany/Maximillian-von-Montgelas Gymnasium Vilsbiburg) also took their opponents to three in a 20-22, 21-9, 15-8 loss.
Match 2: Sac State 5, CUH 0
Facing their first NCAA Division I program this season, the 'Swords could not muster a set win against the Hornets (2-0). Their most competitive match was in the second flight with Bauer and
Mykelle Brainard (Carlsbad, Calif./Pacific Ridge) totaling 36 points against Ashlynn Archer and Reese Ampi.
Misipeka and Ama, moved to the top duo in the match, held their own against Victoria Marthaler and Aurora Bibolotti in a 21-17, 21-15 decision.
The Silverswords conclude the tournament Saturday with matches against the University of Portland and host Corban University.
