Wednesday, October 21, 1998
Spartans enter
‘Land of the Lost’
The San Jose State women's
By Cindy Luis
volleyball team has won just once
in 17 tries in Hawaii
Star-BulletinSan Jose State was rolling. And then the Spartan women's volleyball team got steamrolled . . . big time.
The "Lost Weekend" was in Utah, where San Jose State saw its seven-match winning streak flattened by then No. 5 Brigham Young, 15-3, 15-10, 15-1, Friday. Utah then stomped on what was left, 15-10, 15-10, 15-5, Saturday.
"BYU hammered us," Spartan coach Craig Choate said yesterday. "We were on a good roll and they socked it right out of us. I think we're as good as Utah, but we just couldn't come back Saturday and put an effort on the floor.
"We've been successful because, until last weekend, we've been playing reasonably smart. Now we don't know how good we are."
Choate expects to find out when the Spartans meet No. 9 Hawaii tomorrow night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Spartans have lost the last nine meetings with the Wahine, dating back to 1993, and they have won just once in Hawaii in 17 outings (1986).
"This trip is brutal," Choate said. "There's so many distractions. Everyone's excited because they're in Hawaii. Then, of course, there's the big crowd. That's a real nice home-court advantage to have.
"As for our match, I don't know what we're going to do. I have no idea how we're going to stop (Wahine blocker) Heather Bown. She's been awfully successful. I understand she's a little injured. If Dave (UH coach Dave Shoji) wants to rest her against us, I don't have a problem with that."
Bown pulled a stomach muscle during Hawaii's five-set victory over San Diego State on Saturday. The injury didn't slow her against San Diego on Monday as she tied Heidi Ilustre for team-high kill honors with 22.
"Playing consecutive matches is a concern if we're still beat up," said Shoji, whose team plays Fresno State on Friday. "We're expecting two tough matches. San Jose State is definitely improved. They have basically the same team as last year, but those players are all better.
"I'm not sure how good Fresno State is, but they've been winning."
Fresno State outlasted Utah in five Friday, but was swept by BYU on Saturday.
"BYU is kind of scary," Choate said. "I think of BYU as the very elite and Hawaii is a whole bunch ahead of us. Then there's the three of us (San Jose State, Fresno State and Utah) in the next echelon.
"Hawaii is better than us at this particular stage of the season. We have OK size, but we're not tall. Every team that's not in the super elite has its peaks and valleys. Right now, we're in a valley."
Some bright spots have been senior blocker Melissa Myers, who leads the Western Athletic Conference in aces, and junior setter Michelle Sarkess, who holds the school assist record. Sophomore blocker Joslynn Gallop, the Pacific Division Freshman of the Year last season, is second on the team in kills, blocks and hitting percentage.
Choate also likes how senior middle/hitter Tanya Kamau has progressed. The Hilo native is third on the team in blocks.
"She's really brought up her floor defense," Choate said. "She's been doing a nice job for us.
"Until this past weekend we were reasonably happy with everyone. We need to get back on track."
The Wahine are nursing a variety of ailments: Heidi Ilustre (sore hitting shoulder), Veronica Lima (bulging disc in back), Jessica Sudduth (torn ligament on hitting hand) and Leah Karratti (knee).
Wahine volleyball
Thursday: San Jose State (14-5, 3-2 WAC) at No. 9 Hawaii (14-2, 5-1), 7:05 p.m.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
