Huntington Beach Women’s Pro Volleyball : Silva and Chisholm Win Fifth Final in a Row

Jackie Silva used a strong jump serve to help propel herself and Linda Chisholm to the Michelob Light Huntington Beach Open volleyball title Sunday at Bolsa Chica State Beach in front of about 1,000.

Silva and Chisholm, the top-seeded team in the Women’s Professional Volleyball Assn. double-elimination tournament, defeated Nina Matthies and Julie Schaar, 15-8, in the final.

It was the fifth consecutive tour victory for Silva and Chisholm, who split $2,600. They have lost only once in two seasons together.

Matthies and Schaar, the second-seeded team, split $1,900.

Silva, who played for Brazil in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, had three consecutive aces to increase her’s team lead from 11-8 to 14-8.

The first ace split the defense of Matthies and Schaar, who is from Corona del Mar. The second ace was just inside the left sideline, and the third hit the line rope on the right side.

Matthies, the women’s coach at Pepperdine, was able to return Silva’s match-point serve. But Chisholm set up Silva for a tap shot that she lofted over a leaping Schaar.

“It’s a great serve for outdoors,” Silva said about her jump serve. “It works well in the wind. But I have to be lucky to get it in three times in a row.”

Chisholm also had two aces earlier to help her team establish a 5-1 lead. But Matthies and Schaar rallied to tie the score, 6-6. Silva and Chisholm then opened a 10-7 lead before Silva put the match away with her dominating serve.

It was the second time the teams had played Sunday.

Silva and Chisholm had won the previous game, 15-5.

But the real test for Silva and Chisholm came in a third-round game Sunday.

Kathy Hanley and Elaine Roque, the fourth-seeded team, opened leads of 9-2 and 12-3 over Silva and Chisholm before the champions came back to win, 15-12.

“That was the first time that we’ve had a match like that,” Chisholm said. “That is not the kind of game we want to play. It’s nice to know that we can come back if we have to, but we want to beat each team and allow them the fewest points possible.”

After the first lost to Silva and Chisholm, Matthies and Schaar defeated Lori Kotas and Gail Castro, 17-15, in the most competitive match of the day.

Matthies and Schaar took a 6-0 lead only to be tied, 12-12. Matthies and Schaar opened a 14-12 lead but the match was later tied, 15-15.

There were 11 sideouts before Matthies and Schaar were able to score the final two points to get back into the final.

Kotas and Castro finished third and split $1,400. Liz Masakayan and Angela Rock finished fourth and won $1,000.