The Hawaii Pacific volleyball team is still the defending Pacific West Conference champion, and last night the Chaminade Silverswords were sharply reminded of that on their own home floor. Hawaii Pacific slips
past Chaminade
By Brandon Lee
Special to the Star-BulletinThe Sea Warriors' star middle blocker Susy Garbelotti drove home the point most often with 38 kills as HPU (11-6 overall, 5-2 conference) managed a crucial 31-33, 30-20, 30-20, 27-30, 15-9 victory in front of about 400 fans at McCabe Gym.
Garbelotti's statistical outburst included 14 digs, 10 total blocks and a .275 hitting percentage. Teisa Fotu added 15 kills for the Sea Warriors. Valasi Sepulona led the way for Chaminade (14-5, 6-3) with 18 kills.
"We knew this match was really important," Garbelotti said. "I told (setter) Vera (Oliveira) to just keep giving me the ball."
With the victory, HPU remained one loss behind heated rival and PacWest leader Brigham Young-Hawaii with three conference matches -- including the finale Nov. 16 against the sixth-ranked Seasiders -- left to play. BYUH (19-2, 7-1) won the earlier conference meeting between the two this year. The PacWest winner receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II postseason as one of the Pacific Regional's six participants.
The Silverswords have another shot at the Sea Warriors tonight at home, but it's a nonconference affair that will not affect the PacWest race. Not that the match is meaningless, because Chaminade can still get an at-large berth into the regional, and a win over HPU would help.
The Sea Warriors took control of the match after a close first game. Four kills and a solo block from Garbelotti propelled HPU to a 13-6 lead at the start of the second game. Chaminade battled from behind to take the fourth game, but could not hold off the Sea Warriors in the deciding fifth.
The Sea Warriors still have work to do before meeting up with the Seasiders, with road matches at Western New Mexico and Montana State-Billings. But should they pass those tests, and BYUH win one more, another blockbuster contest is in the making for the winners of three of the last four national championships.
"We're still alive," said HPU coach Tita Ahuna. "It wasn't easy, but we'll take it."
Sea Warriors Sports
Chaminade University
