COSTA MESA -- In a tense Pacific West Conference matchup at the Freed Center for Leadership and Service, Chaminade University of Honolulu defeated Vanguard University 3-1 on Saturday night. Chaminade (9-7, 3-0 PacWest) took the first set 26-24, but VU thundered back with a 25-14 win in the second set. But unfortunately, the Silverswords rebounded to claim the next two sets 27-25 and 29-27 to fall over the finish line first. The Lions (9-2, 1-1 PacWest) recorded nine service aces but could not overcome Chaminade's balanced attack, which included a match-high 20 kills in the final set.
 
What Happened?  The first set opened with Chaminade taking an early 2-0 lead. The Lions narrowed the gap with contributions from Payton Darm and Kayla Robinson, but Chaminade responded by taking a 5-2 edge and running out an 11-4 run make the lead 14-6 . The Lions mounted a comeback late in the set with Morgan Cole and Adeline Galvanoni leading the charge, leveling the score at 24-24 after a series of plays, including two service aces by Viktoria Dickson. However, Chaminade clinched the set 26-24 with a kill and a VU error.  CUH hit a team-best .303 rate in the opening stanza, while VU had a .143 mark
 
Set 2 The Lions secured a decisive 25-14 victory in the second set against the Silverswords and it was not close from the get-go. The Lions capitalized on Chaminade's errors and built an early 5-0 lead. Galvanoni and Dickson each contributed multiple kills, with Macy Kavanaugh providing consistent assists. Ahead 16-7, a service ace from Abby Lutterloh and kills from Dickson got VU to 20 points first, and though CUH had a small burst, they could not close the gap. A nasty ace from Julia Ringenberg sealed the set for the Lions, who hit a match-high .448 in the second interval.  The Silverswords had a .111 rate in the second.
 
Set 3 The third period featured a series of momentum shifts, with both teams exchanging leads.  After a Galvanoni strike and a CUH error put the Blue and Gold up 2-0, the teams were rarely separated by multiple points.  A 3-0 streak for Chaminade put the visitors up 17-14, but kills by Dickson, Darm, and Galvanoni leveled things at 19-all.  VU had the next three points, including an ace by Kavanaugh, to slip ahead 22-19.  However, Chaminade registered eight of the next 11 points to steal the set 27-25.  CUH had a .234 hitting percentage and VU had a .114 conversion rate.
 
Set 4 If one thought the third set was tense, the fourth seemed more thrilling still.  Again, the margins were thin, with eight ties coming over the opening stages.  Tied at 11-11, CUH ran off three unanswered points, but Cole slammed down a ball, and two Silversword errors pegged the scoreboard at 14-14.   Four of the next five points went to CUH, but Cole delivered a kill and two crucial aces to help swing the score to 19-18 edge in favor of Vanguard.  The score was soon tied at 19-19 and 20-20, but the home side used two errors to vault ahead 22-21.  A booming kill by Galvanoni and another CUH mistake put the Lions up 24-22, but the Silverswords took the next three points.  Kills by Galvanoni and Robinson kept VU ahead, but two kills and a block handed CUH the frame 29-27.  The Blue and Gold hit .120 in the fourth and Chaminade had a .192 clip.
 
The Silverswords led VU in total kills by three (58-55) in the match and hit .214 to Vanguard's .182 tally.  The Lions won the serving battle with a 9-5 edge in aces, but CUH had a 10-6 lead in blocks and a 73-62 advantage in digs.  Galvanoni led all players with 16 kills and added two digs, contributing 16.5 points. Cole boasted a double-double with 13 kills and a match-high 17 digs, while also scoring three aces.  Dickson had 11 strikes for VU, and Kavanaugh orchestrated the offense with 28 assists, complementing her 11 digs for a double-double.  Ringenberg had 14 helpers.  Darm made a strong impact at the net with five total blocks and added six kills and three assists to her performance.
 
Why is it Important?  The standings are in a weird spot, as many teams have yet to play a PacWest game.  VU is now tied with APU and Biola at 1-1 and remains winless against CUH (0-5).
 
What's Next? An away game that will not count towards the PacWest record at APU next Friday at 6:00 p.m.