Chaminade ready for No. 1
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
After a week of nosebleed highs and stubbed-toe lows, the Chaminade volleyball team is hoping to regain a sense of balance heading into its weekend matchup with top-ranked Hawai'i Pacific this weekend.
The Silverswords (5-5 overall, 2-0 Pacific West) play the Sea Warriors (12-0, 6-0) tomorrow 6:30 p.m at the Blaisdell Arena and Saturday 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's Priory.
Chaminade is coming off a pair of huge wins last week over then-No. 22 Brigham Young-Hawai'i. It was the first time since 1985 that the Silverswords had beaten the Seasiders, a span of 46 matches.
Last week's upsets were especially meaningful to Chaminade's four seniors and three juniors. Head coach Glennie Adams said they were a good indication of where the league stands this season.
"We're two different teams," she said. "I don't think BYUH is the same team it was last year and I just feel there is so much parity in our league now.
"(The wins were) a good morale booster," Adams said. "But you know how it is, we told them to enjoy it for an hour then move on."
That became difficult, however, when the team was hit with a pair of sobering emergencies: Sophomore twins Nina and Norraine Riel's grandmother passed away, and an aunt of Julyn Kaupu and Shanna Willing fell critically ill.
"I think it's affected the whole team in a way," Adams said.
Still, Adams is confident her team will be able to respond to the mammoth challenge HPU presents. The Sea Warriors beat Western New Mexico on the road Tuesday to notch their 40th consecutive win, just six shy of the NCAA Division II record.
"We expect a good match," Adams said. "I think we can compete with them. We just have to show up and compete."
But in order to compete, the Silverswords will have to find a way to contain HPU's Big 3 of Nia Tuitele, Andrea Wean and Roberta Robert.
"I think those three are their foundation and Nia, in particular, is really carrying that team right now.," Adams said. "We're not going to stop them, but we have to try and slow them down. We need to put up a good block, play defense and keep the focus on our side of the net."
For their part, the Sea Warriors will have to figure out how to contain Chaminade's precocious freshman Valasi Sepulona.
Sepulona, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, was named the PacWest Player of the Week for strong performances against BYUH. Sepulona leads the team in kills (2.92 per game) and digs (3.08), posting at least 15 digs and kills in the each of Chaminade last three matches — all victories.
"She brings a certain sense of toughness," Adams said. "Although she's relatively young at the game, she's tough and she's a competitor."
Sepulona's mental toughness is also apparent off the court. In addition to volleyball and a full course load, Sepulona also helps to care for her ailing mother.
"She has a lot on her plate," Adams said. "Right now, her family has to be her top priority, but I think coming to practice is a good opportunity for her to be welcomed."
Adams said Sepulona is just beginning to tap her true potential.
"She's extremely strong and she has a great foundation," Adams said. "She still has a lot to learn, but she's very receptive and she wants to learn."
Standings
Conf. Tot.
HPU 6-0 12-0
Chaminade 2-0 5-5
W. New Mexico 2-2 8-8
MSU-Billings 2-4 9-6
BYUH 1-3 5-4
UH-Hilo 1-5 6-8
Friday's results
HPU 3, MSU-Billings 2
Chaminade 3, BYUH 2
W. New Mexico 3, UH-Hilo 0
Saturday's results
HPU 3, MSU-Billings 0
BYUH 3, Chaminade 1
W. New Mexico 3, UH-Hilo 1
Monday's results
MSU-Billings 3, UH-Hilo 0
HPU 3, W. New Mexico 2
Tuesday's results
UH-Hilo 3, MSU-Billings 2
HPU 3, W. New Mexico 1
Tomorrow's matches
Chaminade vs. HPU at Blaisdell, 6:30 p.m.
BYU-Hawaii at UH-Hilo, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday's matches
Chaminade vs. HPU at Priory, 7:30 p.m.
BYU-Hawaii at UH-Hilo, 7:15 p.m.
Conference Individual Leaders
Hitting percentage (Minimum .250/4.0 attacks per game)
Player G Kills Errs Total Pct
Wean, Andrea, HPU 44 204 49 393 .394
Salvador, Elena, UHH 49 136 41 267 .356
Brady, Audrey, CU 36 99 30 224 .308
Kaupu, Julyn, CU 34 62 20 147 .286
Moeai, Ashley, BYUH 37 98 29 244 .283
Robert, Roberta, HPU 44 217 64 601 .255
Kills (Minimum 2.50 per game)
Player G No. Per Game
Robert, Roberta, HPU 44 217 4.93
Wean, Andrea, HPU 44 204 4.64
Hopes, Angie, MSUB 57 262 4.60
Xu, Don, BYUH 35 140 4.00
Pilgreen, Sara, UHH 49 178 3.63
Sepulona, Valasi, CU 38 111 2.92
Meatoga, Leiau, BYUH 37 105 2.84
Ollison, Tiffanie, UHH 40 113 2.83
Hastert, Julianne, CU 39 110 2.82
Salvador, Elena, UHH 49 136 2.78
Assists (Minimum 5.00 per game)
Player G No. Per Game
Tuitele, Nia, HPU 44 557 12.66
Denman, Megan, UHH 52 612 11.77
Burgess, Nohealani, WNMU 58 628 10.83
Taylor, Mandi, MSUB 57 571 10.02
Waialae, Janeen, CU 38 376 9.89
Lo, Kaala, BYUH 37 306 8.27
Service Aces (Minimum 0.30 per game)
Player G No. Per Game
Denman, Megan, UHH 52 31 0.60
Munro, Olivia, MSUB 35 18 0.51
Burgess, Nohealani, WNMU 58 27 0.47
Taylor, Mandi, MSUB 57 26 0.46
Fotu, Teisa, HPU 44 20 0.45
Lo, Kaala, BYUH 37 16 0.43
Sepulona, Valasi, CU 38 16 0.42
Meatoga, Leiau, BYUH 37 15 0.41
Robins, Jessica, CU 38 15 0.39
Driggs, Crissy, BYUH 27 10 0.37
Blocks (Minimum 0.75 per game)
Player G Solo Ass. Tot. P/Ga
Harris, Tegan, MSUB 57 21 49 70.0 1.23
Wean, Andrea, HPU 44 13 39 52.0 1.18
Dahlgren, Katrina, MSUB 57 19 47 66.0 1.16
Hopes, Angie, MSUB 57 13 41 54.0 0.95
Ribeiro, Karla, BYUH 37 7 26 33.0 0.89
Shiroma, Cheriesse, UHH 51 12 30 42.0 0.82
Robins, Jessica, CU 38 8 23 31.0 0.82
Moeai, Ashley, BYUH 37 5 25 30.0 0.81
Brady, Audrey, CU 36 7 22 29.0 0.81
Fotu, Teisa, HPU 44 9 26 35.0 0.80
Digs (Minimum 2.50 per game)
Player G No. Per Game
Robert, Roberta, HPU 44 185 4.20
Munro, Olivia, MSUB 35 131 3.74
Ollison, Tiffanie, UHH 40 147 3.67
Fotu, Teisa, HPU 44 161 3.66
Hopes, Angie, MSUB 57 203 3.56
Paulson, Mandi, MSUB 55 195 3.55
Ribeiro, Karla, BYUH 37 128 3.46
Meatoga, Leiau, BYUH 37 122 3.30
Taylor, Mandi, MSUB 57 179 3.14
Sepulona, Valasi, CU 38 117 3.08
Cross Country
Saturday's results
UH-Manoa Invitational at Kaneohe, 5K
Women — 1, UH-Manoa 35. 2, HPU 55. 3, BYUH 76. 4, St. Mary's 90. 5, Chaminade 104. 6, UH-Hilo 179.
Men — 1, HPU 33. 2, UH-Hilo 86. 3, BYUH 86. 4, Chaminade 132. 5, St. Mary's 148.
