Saturday, December 5, 1998

Hawaii Pacific reaches
Division II semifinals

Star-Bulletin staff

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Win or lose, they're not going to DisneyWorld.

But that's OK for Hawaii Pacific volleyball coach Tita Ahuna. She wants to come home with a national championship, like she did in 1987 when playing for the University of Hawaii.

"I just want my players to feel the same way I felt when we won (in 1987)," Ahuna said after her Sea Warriors advanced in the NCAA Division II national tournament. "It's different being a coach in this situation than being a player. It's exciting for me because I know what it takes. I've been there. I want them to be there, too."

Hai Yan Wang had 18 kills and four blocks and Debbie Sant'Anna added 17 kills and 14 digs to pace HPU (29-5) over North Alabama (38-6). The victory sends the Sea Warriors into today's semifinals against second-ranked Tampa.

Tampa eliminated Northern Kentucky, 15-1, 13-15, 15-6, 15-12. Advancing to the other semifinal were North Dakota State and Regis.

Today's winners meet for the title tomorrow (9 a.m. HST).

"Tampa's middles are huge, they're good athletes and quick," Ahuna said. "But I feel confident we can do the job.

"Physically, we can compete with anyone. BYU-Hawaii set the standard. From what I see, Tampa is close to BYUH. And BYUH deserves to be here.

"Tampa looked great. But we know we can play with them."

HPU won one national title while competing in the NAIA (1990).

n Hawaii Pacific def. North Alabama, 15-7, 16-14, 15-12

At Kissimmee, Fla.

Lions (38-6 overall)

		g	k	e	at	pct.	bs	ba	d
Fasce		3	1	0	3	.324	0	0	9
Ra.Price	3	11	5	35	.667	0	4	8
Ro.Price	3	15	9	40	.000	0	1	6
Trojan		3	3	4	27	.000	1	0	8
Champman	3	0	2	12	1.000	0	5	2
Midkiff		3	0	0	0	.000	0	0	5
Bernstein	3	0	0	0	.000	0	0	10
Jensen		1	0	0	2	.000	0	0	0
Hagar		1	0	1	2	.000	0	0	0
Fishback	3	4	4	11	.000	0	0	1
Totals		3	45	25	132	.333	1	10	49

Sea Warriors (29-5 overall)

		g	k	e	at	pct.	bs	ba	d
Rocha		3	7	0	25	1.000	0	1	9
Maristela	3	2	2	5	.000	0	1	8
Penebacker	3	7	2	14	.429	0	1	3
Wong		3	0	0	0	.000	0	0	6
Tuitele		3	5	0	5	1.000	0	1	6
Wang		3	18	3	30	.500	1	3	7
Sant’Anna	3	17	9	50	.160	0	1	14
Totals		3	56	15	129	.310	1	8	53

Aces--UH (4): Ro. Price 2, Ra. Price 1, Fasce 1. HPU (4): Wang 2, Rocha 1, Wong 1. Assists--UH (40): Fasce 34, Ra. Price 4, Chapman 1. HPU (47): Tuitele 42, Maristela 3, Rocha 1, Wang 1.

A--185. T--1:35. Officials: Fruechte Kulbniken, Hendrick Snow.