Wednesday, September 9, 1998
Wahine don’t
have time for
a letdown
They host another volleyball
By Cindy Luis
tournament starting tomorrow
Star-BulletinDespite Sunday's disappointing loss to Florida, there is no reason for the University of Hawaii women's volleyball team to have a letdown.
The Wahine don't have time.
After taking Monday off, No. 13 Hawaii returned to practice yesterday, going over skills. Today, the Wahine prepare for the teams that will compete in this week's Aston's Imua Wahine Challenge.
First up for Hawaii (2-1) is Bradley (2-1) at 7 p.m. tomorrow The tournament opens with a 5 p.m. match between Arizona State (3-1) and Baylor (3-2).
"This is a short practice week and not an ideal situation," Wahine coach Dave Shoji said. "We need the skill work. There a number of areas we need to get better in.
"The teams in this tournament are not of the caliber that we had last weekend. What we have to guard against is a letdown. We can go in, expecting things are going to be easy. We need to respect every team and go out and play hard every night."
While every team in last week's Wahine Classic was ranked, host Hawaii is the only team in the Top 25 in the Imua field. Yesterday, the Wahine moved up a notch from their preseason rating.
"I think we've played really well as a team so far," said junior blocker Heather Bown, who was named the WAC Pacific Division Player of the Week. "We've learned that we can compete at the top level in the country."
"I like my team," Shoji said. "Florida (a 3-1 loss) was almost like a mid-season match. There are definitely areas we can get better in, but I think we're pretty good. And we should get better. We've got a lot of weapons."
Team: Hawaii (2-1)
Coach: Dave Shoji (24th year, 651-133)
Notes: The Wahine opened the season with wins over No. 18 UCLA and No. 13 Ohio State and claimed the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic title for the fifth time, despite dropping a 3-1 decision to No. 6 Florida.
Junior Heather Bown, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, had 55 kills and hit .522 with 12 blocks in the three tournament matches. She and freshman middle Veronica Lima were named to the all-tournament team.
Hawaii has won the three previous Imua Challenges. A Wahine has been the MVP every time: Robyn Ah Mow (1995 and '96) and Cia Goods (1997).
Team: Arizona State (3-1)
Coach: Patti Snyder-Park (10th year, 151-115)
Notes: The Sun Devils opened the season with a second-place finish in their Hilton Sun Devil Challenge. ASU outlasted Connecticut and George Washington in five, then lost to No. 20 Loyola Marymount in straight sets.
Sophomore Amanda Burbridge, a 6-2 hitter, is averaging 4.59 kills per game. Freshman Jami Coughlin, a 6-foot hitter, is second in kills with a 3.82 average.
Team: Bradley (2-1)
Coach: Scott Luster (1st year)
Notes: The Braves finished second in the Missouri Tiger Invitational last weekend, defeating Northeast Louisiana and Western Kentucky. Bradley fell to host Missouri in three straight in the championship match.
Senior middle hitter Tegan Catlin (5-11) leads the Braves in kills (40) and hitting percentage (.329). Freshman setter Samantha Hardwick runs the team. Returning home as a senior is outside hitter Erika Nash, daughter of Hawaii associate head basketball coach Bob Nash.
Team: Baylor (3-2)
Coach: Brian Hosfeld (3rd year, 36-37)
Notes: The Bears have notched wins over Centenary, Northwestern State and North Texas. Their loses have come to Rice and Northwestern.
Junior hitter Elisha Polk (5-9) is the team leader in kills and digs. She had a 24-kill, 22-dig performance in the loss to Northwestern.
Aston's Imua Challenge
Tomorrow: Arizona State (3-1) vs. Baylor (3-2), 5 p.m.; No. 13 Hawaii (2-1) vs. Bradley (2-1), 7 p.m.
1998 UH Wahine Volleyball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
