IRVINE, Calif. -- There were no upsets last week as the top six teams continue to dominate the PacWest, building up to what will inevitably be a wild race for the PacWest title this season.
Chaminade defeated Hawai`i Pacific in three sets last week and is now tied for the third most wins in NCAA Division II so far this season with a 19-4 overall record.
The race for the PacWest title and the all-important automatic bid into the NCAA West Regional will pick up this week with the Hawai`i schools going to southern California for a series of six matches that will feature two of the top-6 teams in the standings.
It starts tonight with Chaminade playing at Biola, while Concordia hosts Hawai`i Hilo. The Vulcans are at the top of the standings and are starting the trip through southern California with an eight-match winning streak. Concordia will have the first chance to end that streak while the Vulcans continue their quest for their first PacWest title since 2010.
Concordia won’t get any break and will be right back in CUI Arena on Tuesday to host Chaminade. The Eagles have won three matches in a row to earn some momentum going into these two crucial battles.
On Wednesday, Hawai`i Hilo will play at Point Loma, while Hawai`i Pacific starts its trip with a match against Biola. The Sea Lions will play back-to-back with Chaminade coming to Golden Gym on Thursday. Point Loma enters the week with an 8-3 record in conference play. On Friday, Hawai`i Hilo will conclude its trip at Biola.
Weekly awards for the week of October 18-24
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brianna Latigue, Concordia
S, Sr., 5-9 -- San Jose, Calif.
Latigue averaged 12.2 assists per set with a .428 hitting percentage last week as she led the Eagles to a pair of victories against Fresno Pacific and Academy of Art without dropping a set. The Eagles have now won nine sets in a row and a 7-3 in the conference. Latigue recorded 44 assists in the 3-set win, which was just five away from the PacWest’s record. She also had nine digs, four kills and three blocks in the win. The following day, Latigue tallied 29 assists for Concordia.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Anna Massari, Point Loma
MB, Fr., 6-1 -- Las Vegas, Nev.
Massari led the PacWest in blocks last week and also ranked among the leaders in hitting percentage and kills per set as she helped the Sea Lions earn two wins without losing a set last week. The freshman had 12 blocks, including two solo blocks, giving her a total of 70 blocks this season. On the offensive side, she had a total of 20 kills, including 13 against Holy Names. Her .432 hitting percentage for the week ranked fourth in the conference.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Sami Hover, Biola
L, Sr., 5-5 -- Glendale, Ariz.
The digs section of the PacWest record book has been rewritten this season and Hover’s name is going to be all over it when it is all said and done. The graduate student recorded a record 47 digs in Biola’s four-set win against Fresno Pacific. The previous record was 45 set in 2015 by Taylor Dennison from Concordia. Hover smashed that record and came within two digs of the single match record of 49. Hover now sits second in the record book. She now has 2,179 digs in her career, which ranks fourth in PacWest history, and she only needs six more to move up to third place.