UH faces tough road
The Wahine kick off the
By Cindy Luis
NCAA Tournament against No. 22
Loyola Marymount
Star-BulletinDo you know that agricultural form the airlines hand out to incoming Hawaii travelers? The one that asks: "Are you a returning resident, intended resident or visitor?" The University of Hawaii women's volleyball team is struggling with the answer. The Wahine aren't sure they still qualify for residency, having spent part or all of 24 of the last 47 days on the road.
"We've never had this kind of road travel that I can remember," said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji, whose team was scheduled to leave tonight on its fifth trip in seven weeks. "With the way the WAC is, I guess it's going to be like this for the rest of time."
This is not the Western Athletic Conference, however. It's the NCAA Tournament and Shoji didn't expect to be heading to Honolulu International this week.
For the first time since 1984, Hawaii opens postseason play on the road. Friday, it's at The Pyramid at Long Beach (Calif.) State against No. 22 Loyola Marymount.
This is perhaps the Wahine's toughest opening opponent since the tournament expanded from 32 teams 13 years ago. LMU (21-6) features senior opposite Sarah Noriega, who leads the nation in kill average (6.91 kills per game).
Noriega had just 11 kills in the 3-1 loss to Hawaii at the Special Events Arena on Sept. 19. Two nights later, she put down 33 as the Lions used 16 service aces to outlast the Wahine in five.
"We did a really good job of slowing Noriega down one night and a not-so-good job the next time," Shoji said. "That's something we know we have to do this time and I think we can do it.
"LMU also serves really tough (188 aces on the season to UH's 145). They had 16 aces that one match and we almost won. I'm not sure they can serve that tough again and I don't think we can pass as poorly. If both happen again, we're in trouble."
If No. 15 Hawaii beats LMU, it will play Long Beach State on Saturday. The 49ers handed the Wahine their worst-ever loss Nov. 1, 15-8, 15-5, 15-0, at The Pyramid.
Sophomore hitter Aven Lee didn't make the last trip to Long Beach.
"I know a lot of people don't expect us to do good this week, but maybe that's better for us," Lee said. "No one respects us so we have nothing to lose.
"We need to be confident and take care of Loyola and then be consistent the whole game against Long Beach. We've got a chance. Always. We just need to play like we can play."
Shoji said the Wahine aren't thinking about the 49ers.
"We're not practicing for them because we have to concentrate on the Lions," he said. "They're a very good team and we're preparing for that.
"This was a tough hand we got dealt (by the NCAA). It's not a good draw, but we go where they tell us to. If we can get past LMU to Long Beach, they certainly don't fear us. And maybe that's good for us."
The facts
Friday: No. 15 Hawaii (25-6) vs. No. 22 Loyola Marymount, 5:30 p.m. HST
1997 UH Wahine Volleyball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
