HONOLULU – The Chaminade University beach volleyball returned to action Thursday, competing in the University of Hawai'i Heineken Queens Cup at Queens Beach in Waikiki.
The Silverswords dropped both their matches in 5-0 decisions to Concordia University Irvine in the early afternoon draw then to host and nationally ranked Hawai'i in the day's final match.
Chaminade fell to 4-6 on the season.
Match 1: CUI 5, CUH 0
The 'Swords saw a familiar name in the Golden Eagles, a fellow Pacific West Conference member, although the conference does not sponsor the sport, in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
CUI (4-6), in its 12th year in existence and a regular in the AVCA Small College Championships, captured the No. 3 and 4 pairings, then clinched the match at the top flight although Chaminade's top tandem of
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane) and
Kanoelehua Misipeka (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Liberty North, Mo.) made it interesting with a close second set before falling 21-17.
In the second flight,
Audrah Johnson (Nampa, Idaho/Utah State University/Nampa HS) and
Sina Bauer (Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany/Maximillian-von-Montgelas Gymnasium Vilsbiburg) dropped a close 21-19 decision in their opening set.
Flight 5 was the most thrilling match between
Allison Panter (Denver, Colo./Portland State University/Denver School of Science and Technology HS) and
Tabby Allen (Leander, Texas/Rouse) against Madi Kelly and McKenzie Perrault. The CUH duo fell behind in the match but rallied to win the second, 21-13, to force a third but could not overcome the Golden Eagles' duo.
Match 2: #12 UH 5 CUH 0
The Rainbow Wahine (3-4), ranked 12th in the AVCA rankings, held the 'Swords to single digits in the opening set in four of the five matches. Chaminade managed to make adjustments in the second sets with the No. 1 duo of Bauer and
Beele Wieczorek (Wiesbaden, Germany/Elly-Heuss School) getting 11 points in the second with Ama and Misipeka scoring 12 in the No. 2 pairing.
In Flight 4, Panter and Allen nearly pulled out a set win against UH's Emily Heintzelman and Sydney Miller before falling 21-19.
The 'Swords continue in Day 2 of the Queens Cup Friday with matches against UNC Wilmington at 11 a.m. and San Jose State at 2:45 p.m.
