HONOLULU – The Chaminade University beach volleyball team opened a two-match series against fellow Division II foe McKendree University on Monday at Queen's Beach in Waikiki.
In one of the most competitive matches in the young two-and-a-half-year history of the program, the Silverswords fell in a 3-2 decision to the Bearcats out of Lebanon, Illinois.
All but one match was decided in the third set.
Trailing 1-0, the No. 2 duo of
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) and
Sina Bauer (Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany/Maximillian-von-Montgelas Gymnasium Vilsbiburg) tied the match with a 21-11, 18-21, 15-8 win over Samantha Coe and Audrey Bennett.
The Bearcats took the No. 5 pairing in straight sets then clinched the overall match win in Flight 3 which went the distance.
Chaminade managed to win its second pairing at the top flight with
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) and
Kanoelehua Misipeka (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Liberty North, Mo.) rallying from a set down to defeat Brooke Junker and Natalie Witt, 18-21, 21-15, 15-11.
The Silverswords (4-11) and Bearcats (2-6) face each other in a rematch on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Queen's Beach.
