Box Score
Honolulu, HI -- The Urban Knights got a much-needed win on Tuesday night, sweeping Chaminade in straight sets, 25-23, 25-20, 20-9. The Knights (8-15, 4-8 PWC) had attacks from all over, with three players reaching double-digits in kills to put the Silverswords down in three games. It was a huge match for the Knights, with multiple players setting individual and team marks for a three-game set.
Ka'ena Kaina led the way for the Knights with 15 kills, the third-highest total of 2011 and the second-highest total of Kaina's young career. She also put herself at the top of the list of kills for a three-game set in 2011, and became the first name not named Phooey Yang on the historical top-ten list.
Senior opposite hitter Angela Heath added 13 kills, 6 digs, and 4 total blocks, and fellow senior outside hitter Leinani Keanini had a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs. Melissa Cheng set the 2011 season-record for a three-game match for assists, with 40, and put herself in second place on the historical assist list.
Academy of Art out-performed the Swords in almost every category, leading them in hitting percentage (.330 to .141), kills (51 to 25), blocks (6.5 to 5.0), and assist percentage (.723 to .677). The Knights also set team records in assists for a three game set (47) and came just short of the team record of 53 kills in three sets, putting up 51 total on Tuesday.
"Everyone did their job tonight!" Head coach Allison Magner relayed via text message after Tuesday's win. "The was maturity all around the block."
The first set was competitive throughout, as Academy of Art came back from being down 17-13 to within three at 23-20. Coach Magner called a timeout, and the Knights came out and scored five straight, finishing off the set when Cheng found Kaina for the kill.
ART U came out strong in the second set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Chaminade actually went ahead at 12-11, but the Knights weren't interested in keeping it close, rattling off a 7-0 run in which Kaina had three kills. Academy of Art was up 24-18 when the Silverswords sent Michaelynne to the service line, who subsequently gave them two aces, forcing another timeout by Magner before her third serve hit the net to give the set to the visitors.
The third set was all Urban Knights, as they immediately took control with an 8-0 start, including three straight kills by Kaina. The points for the Swords were few and far between as the Knights used runs of 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, and 4-0 to end the match at 25-9. Keanini had seven kills in the third set alone, and the Knights came away with a win.
Junior libero Janelle Burnett has seen her first significant playing time of 2011 on this road trip, getting in all three matches so far. Burnett had two service aces against the Silverswords and added a defensive dig as well.
"Janelle has been dedicated to working hard," Magner said. "And with that she found a spot on the floor and has made a huge difference."
Incidentally, the three stars for the Knights all hail from Hawai'i, either from Honolulu itself (Kaina), or within 25 miles at nearby Ewa Beach (Heath) and Kailua (Keanini). The Urban Knights will have a day off on Wednesday before playing Hawaii-Pacific again on Thursday at 10:00 PM Pacific Time.
