SALEM, Ore. – The Chaminade University beach volleyball team concluded the program's first-ever mainland competition Saturday at the Corban Invitational.
Playing in 40-degree weather for the second straight day at the Corban Beach Volleyball Courts, the Silverswords fell in identical 5-0 decisions to NAIA power and host Corban University and the University of Portland.
Chaminade fell to 4-4 on the season.
Match 1: CRB 5, CUH 0
Originally to have been the final match of the tournament, the 'Swords' meeting against the No. 2-ranked squad in the NAIA was moved to the 1 p.m. local time slot with Portland encountering travel problems.
The Warriors (6-1) took Flights 4 and 2 for a 2-0 lead then clinched the match win in the fifth flight.
Kanoelehua Misipeka (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Liberty North, Mo.) and
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) posted the most combined points for the Silverswords in the match, totaling 35 points at the top duo spot against Emma Bischoff and Emmi Marks.
Sina Bauer (Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany/Maximillian-von-Montgelas Gymnasium Vilsbiburg) and
Mykelle Brainard (Carlsbad, Calif./Pacific Ridge), Chaminade's No. 2 duo, had 32 points against Gabi Engels and Allyson Reid.
In the final match that was completed,
Audrah Johnson (Nampa, Idaho/Utah State University/Nampa HS) and
Ma'ila Stephens (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Siena College/Mililani HS) had a combined 29 points.
Match 2: PORT 5, CUH 0
The Pilots took the fourth and second doubles then had the clincher in Flight 3.
At the top flight, Misipeka and Ama won their first set against Portland's Leonie Freytag and Elin Larsson, 21-18, and had a chance for the win but could not pull it out in extra points, 23-21, then dropped the third, 15-5.
In the non-counting Flight 6 exhibition,
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) and
Allison Panter (Denver, Colo./Portland State University/Denver School of Science and Technology HS) defeated Melissa Cormack and Hannah Debban, 21-19, 21-13.
The Silverswords return to action at the University of Hawai'i Heineken Queens Cup at Queen's Beach in Waikiki next weekend, starting on Friday, March 5 against Concordia University Irvine at 12:15 p.m. followed at 4 p.m. versus host Hawai'i.
