Kowalski, Panthers finish with a bang

ORANGE, Calif. – As if not wanting to say 'good bye' to its only senior, the Chapman University women's volleyball team stretched its regular season finale out as long as it could. The Panthers finally disposed of visiting Hope International University in five sets, 25-18, 15-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-10 at the Hutton Sports Center on Wednesday night. And in the process honored the school's all-time assists leader – senior setter Kat Kowalski – in the final home match of her career.

It will be the final match of her career if Chapman does not earn a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs when the selections are announced on Monday morning.

Chapman (17-11) went out on a high note if this was its final match of the season. In beating the Royals, the Panthers won for the 12th time in their final 15 matches, including five straight at home. Chapman also improved to 5-1 in five-set matches this season.

After splitting the first two sets, Chapman rattled off six straight points to turn a 6-5 lead into a 12-5 advantage in the third set and never looked back. Sophomore MB Kate Ferrin earned six of her match-high 17 kills in the frame and added a solo block to lead the Panthers to a 25-18 win.

The Panthers needed a big rally in the fourth set to make it interesting. Hope International (6-16) led 22-12 late in the game, but Chapman came back with nine of the next 11 points to make it 24-21 before the Royals' final kill sealed the win and forced a deciding fifth set.

In the final set, the Panthers led from start to finish, getting four kills from freshman OH Mady Dahlstrom. Dahlstrom and fellow freshman OH McKenna Roice earned back-to-back kills to give Chapman a 14-10 lead and seal the 15-10 win. The rookies combined for 26 kills in the match (Dahlstrom 15, Roice 11).

However, the night belonged to the veteran Kowalski, who was honored in a pregame ceremony. Kowalski led the Panthers with 29 assists and added four service aces – all coming in one turn in the first set. The senior finishes her career with 3,729 assists which is an all-time Chapman record.

Three Royals' players finished with double-digits in kills, led by Naomi Iosia with 16 kills, five aces and 13 digs.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wvball/2010-11/files/hiu-cu.htm