Hawai‘i Hilo sweeps Chaminade, claims PacWest Volleyball Championship and NCAA automatic berth

HONOLULU, HI – Josimara Pinheiro unleashed 15 kills and Katie Swenson registered 34 assists as Hawai‘i Hilo swept Chaminade 3-0 Friday night in Honolulu, HI, to clinched the 2009 Pacific West Conference Volleyball Championship.

The title is the second in two years for Dr. Bruce Atkinson who will have an opportunity to lead his team to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament.

Two years ago the PacWest did not have an automatic qualifier for the West Region bracket and the Vulcans were not extended a post-season bid despite a 14-0 PacWest mark and a 23-5 overall record.

This year the Vulcans are locked into the playoffs with an opportunity to make a real run at a national title.

UHH is 23-1 overall on the season and 13-1 in conference action with a match at BYU-Hawaii on Saturday night and a home contest vs. Hawai‘i Pacific on Nov. 7 left on its regular-season schedule.

The Vulcans’ lone loss this season occurred at Dixie State on Oct. 2 and they currently have a seven-match winning streak dating back to that defeat. Hawai‘i Hilo also has claimed six straight shutout wins and 19 consecutive game victories since a 3-1 triumph at HPU on Oct. 10.

This year Hawai‘i Hilo has amassed a 69-14 mark in 83 games with 16 sweeps.

Pinheiro also posted nine digs in blanking Chaminade, while Laura Rodriguez added eight on the defensive side of the net. Morgan Bonney recorded nine kills and Leilani Ramsey chipped in eight to help bolster the UHH offense.