Friday, October 9, 1998
Let the ‘real’
games begin in
the WAC
Wahine and Cougar
By Cindy Luis
volleyball teams face stiff
tests tonight before
meeting tomorrow
Star-BulletinGuess who?
"It doesn't get any easier for us. The WAC matches we have this week are extremely important to us. We need to get at least one -- if not two -- wins. And that won't be easy."
Hawaii women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji could have said it -- but didn't.
Same for BYU coach Elaine Michaelis. But the feelings of the Western Athletic Conference Pacific Division leaders were summed up by Utah's Beth Launiere.
Starting today, the WAC season intensifies, with the Utes hosting No. 10 Hawaii (3 p.m. HST) and No. 5 BYU hosting San Diego State.
Tomorrow, the Wahine and Aztecs trade sites and opponents. If anyone emerges 2-0, they will make a statement nationally.
Hawaii leads the WAC's Pacific Division at 3-0, with BYU 1-0 going into today's matches. San Diego State is 1-3 and Utah 0-1 after last week's 15-3, 15-10, 15-1 blasting by BYU.
The Cougars and Wahine were picked 1-2 in the coaches' preseason poll. The two teams have battled for the conference tournament title the past two years, with BYU winning both times.
"I think we're both hoping we're still undefeated in the conference when we meet each other Saturday," Michaelis said. "We both have tough matches (today), but you can't help but focus on the No. 10 team in the country. Their middle attack is doing very well. With the national stats they're putting up, we may have difficulty in stopping that kind of attack."
UH's middle blockers concern Shoji -- and Michaelis.
Wahine junior middle Heather Bown (6-foot-3), the WAC leader in hitting percentage and kills, has been hobbled by a sprained left ankle. Freshman middle Veronica Lima (6-2) missed both of last week's matches with a bulging disc in her back, but has been cleared to play.
The Cougars counter with freshman Nina Puikkonen (6-3), who had nine kills and 13 blocks against the Utes and leads the WAC in blocks, and sophomore Melissa Layton (6-1).
"Our middles are making good progress, but they're still young, a freshman and a sophomore," Michaelis said. "I think we're pretty balanced, but I am concerned about the matchup in the middle."
The remainder of the Cougars' lineup is solid. Back are junior setter Anna-Lena Smith, junior hitter Caroline Steuer and senior hitter Korie Rogers, who were all-WAC last year.
The surprise has been junior transfer Mari Burningham Carpenter, a 6-4 hitter who leads the team in kills and hitting percentage.
BYU's lone loss was to Long Beach State at Smith Fieldhouse on Sept. 11. Since then, the Cougars have won seven in a row, including Monday's victory over Idaho State -- Michaelis' 1,000th match as BYU coach.
"We have not had that strong of a schedule, not as Hawaii has had," Michaelis said. "This is our first big test of the season. We'll find out just how good we are."
As will Hawaii.
WAC volleyball
Friday
No. 10 Hawaii (11-1, 3-0 WAC) at Utah (10-4, 1-1), 3 p.m.
Saturday
Radio
The Series
Of Note
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
