The Chaminade volleyball team’s nonconference schedule was anything but a one-two-three proposition.
Yet that’s what the Silverswords overcame in an early-season ramp-up like no other, defeating the teams ranked, at the time of the matches, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in NCAA Division II, plus encounters with four other top-25 teams.
The Silverswords emerged from the bruising nonconference slate with a 7-3 record and No. 7 national ranking, a program high in their D-II era.
Coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke’s preseason gambit to increase the profile of her program was a success. Now all that stands between the Silverswords and a return to the NCAA Tournament is the 20-game PacWest schedule, which starts Thursday at 7 against Menlo College (3-4) at McCabe Gym.
“We want to make sure the team knew that the target on our backs is huge,” Kabalis Hoke told Spectrum News in a phone interview on Wednesday. “What we did in preseason will definitely set the tone for every single team that faces us.
“We need to be prepared for every opponent’s best match.”
It has been a steady build for the Silverswords, who have posted at least 26 wins for three straight seasons. Chaminade made the NCAA West Region second round last year as part of its first 30-win campaign, and advanced to the West Region championship match in 2022. Both times, it was knocked out by Cal State Los Angeles.
The ‘Swords exacted a measure of revenge on Sept. 6 when they swept the CSLA Golden Eagles at the Yotes Classic Showcase in San Bernardino, Calif. That launched a five-match winning streak in which Chaminade took on, and prevailed over, the top-three trifecta.
Chaminade opened the Colorado Premier Challenge with a sweep of then-No. 2 Wayne State and beat No. 3 MSU Denver in four in the semifinals. It only ran out of gas against then-No. 9 West Texas A&M in five sets in the tournament final, in which two rotation players sat with injuries.
Its other two losses were against ranked foes Cal Poly Pomona (No. 21) and St. Cloud State (No. 10) in San Bernardino.
"That was the kick in the butt we needed to just put it in gear," Kabalis Hoke said. "Once we took on Cal State LA, the confidence just grew and the team knew what we’re capable of. From then on, it’s been lights out."
Chaminade graduated a standout hitter from Italy, Greta Corti, from last year’s team, while another Italian pin hitter, Ajack Malual, jumped up to Division I at Tennessee. Both were PacWest first-team honorees.
The ‘Swords restocked effectively with two new Italians in Division I graduate transfers Anna Stucchi (Santa Clara) and Letizia Cammillucci (San Jose State). They lead the Silverswords in kills per set at 3.50 and 3.08, respectively, and Cammillucci also leads the group in digs per set (2.61).
“We’re just blessed with the great gift of word of mouth,” Kabalis Hoke said of the Italian connection. “They had some friends and they called their friends over. We’re just grateful that the players that we had had a great experience, that they put some recommendations in.”
Chaminade continues to blend overseas and homegrown talent. Mahala Ka‘apuni, a Hilo High graduate, is one of six local players on the roster; she is third on the team at 2.47 kills per set.
In the ‘Swords’ 6-2 offense, Oklahoma graduate transfer Grace Talpash has taken over primary setting duties while last year’s freshman starter Leilani Ama handles the secondary rotation.
The toughest hurdle for a PacWest title could be Point Loma Nazarene (6-0), the San Diego-based school that entered the coaches poll at No. 25 this week. Hawaii Hilo went 5-5 while Hawaii Pacific is 0-6.
Chaminade follows its Menlo home match with Dominican (1-5) at 5 p.m. Friday. The PacWest, including Chaminade, has debuted a paid streaming service for matches this season.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.