HONOLULU – Monday was, in essence, a matchup 37 years in the making.
For just the second time ever – and the first since 1989 – the Chaminade University women's volleyball team faced off against long-time power University of Hawai'i.
The Silverswords gave a spirited effort against the Rainbow Wahine in their 25-20, 25-16, 25-10 loss at Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center. With the match being a non-counting exhibition, the teams also played a fourth set, won by Hawai'i, 25-13.
The exhibition against their Division I neighbor down the road on Waialae Ave. also showed UH fans what the CUH faithful have known for years; the 'Swords showing a lot of fortitude despite the odds being stacked against them. The contest was also a reunion with former Chaminade associate head coach Kolby Kanetake, who took an assistant position with Hawai'i, his alma mater.
Senior right-side hitter
Tabby Allen (Leander, Texas/Rouse) had a team-high six kills, three service aces and a block for the Silverswords, who played a match on the Manoa campus for the first time in program history. The only other meeting against the 'Bows was at McCabe Gymnasium, a regular season contest on Sept. 14, 1989.
Reina Krueger (Fort Collins, Colo./Liberty Commons) and newcomer
Allison Panter (Denver/Portland State University/Denver School of Science and Technology HS) each had two kills for the Silverswords, who were held to 15 kills and a minus-.035 attack percentage. Krueger also led the team with three total blocks.
Panna Ratkai had 13 kills for the Rainbow Wahine, which amassed 46 kills and hit .340 on the evening.
The first set was extremely competitive with CUH hanging around and forcing a 12-all deadlock. UH answered on a 6-1 run before the 'Swords countered by forcing a pair of hitting errors along with a kill from
Malena Mihalik (Santa Fe, Argentina/San Euginio) to close to within 18-17. Hawai'i managed to force set point at 24-19 before Allen's fourth kill of the frame gave CUH its 20th point before the home team closed it out.
But the physical Rainbow Wahine surged from there, putting down 26 kills and a percentage of .356 in the final two sets while the Silverswords mustered just seven kills while hitting negative in the same span.
In a fourth set that was agreed upon by both teams prior to first serve,
Lillie Hinton (Spicewood, Texas/Lake Travis) slammed down five kills while
Siria Guerini added a kill and ace. Allen and
Anna Karasinska (Nowa Ruda, Poland/II L.O. Wroclaw) also had block assists.
The 'Swords open their season Thursday at the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge in Hilo where they will open against the University of Alaska Anchorage at 1 p.m. followed by a Friday noon tilt against nationally-ranked University of Alaska. A potential Saturday match is to be determined after the outcome of Friday's matches.
