StarBulletin.com

Rainbow Wahine put Aggies in their place


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POSTED: Sunday, September 28, 2008

The knock on the shorter 25-point sets in college volleyball this season has been the belief it eliminates the ability for teams to rally when down big late.

               

     

 

 

No. 7 Hawaii (11-2, 4-0 WAC) at San Jose State (6-8, 2-2),

        When: Tomorrow, 4 p.m. Hawaii time,

       

Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM

       

       

No. 7 Hawaii disproved that in a big way yesterday against Western Athletic Conference rival New Mexico State. The Rainbow Wahine came back from an 18-13 deficit in Set 3 to outscore the host Aggies 12-5 and complete a 26-24, 25-20, 25-23 sweep in front of 2,347 at the Pan American Center.

It took just 95 minutes for Hawaii (11-2, 4-0) to take over sole possession of first place in the WAC. It was also the first time the Wahine have swept the Aggies in Las Cruces, N.M., since a 15-1, 15-13, 15-3 victory in 1993 when both were in the Big West.

Senior hitter Jamie Houston finished with a match-high 16 kills and junior hitter Aneli Cubi-Otineru had her second double-double (10 kills, 12 digs). Senior libero Tara Hittle added a career-high four aces for the Wahine, who had gone five with the Aggies in their last four visits here.

“;The team talked about it, saying why don't we just sweep and get out of there,”; UH coach Dave Shoji said after the Wahine's 10th straight victory. “;It was kind of a joke because of how our matches with them have been going. Every game was tough. We feel fortunate that we did get out with a sweep.”;

One play did have the Hawaii players laughing, a play that Shoji credits for sparking the Set 3 rally. Down 18-14, the ball Ping-Ponged around the UH defense, hitting Stephanie Ferrell—who was on the floor—and landing on the Aggie side of the court for one of her nine kills to make it 18-15.

“;It was such a ridiculous play, a fluke,”; NMSU coach Mike Jordan said. “;It was on a long rally, we had an overpass that we dinked and the ball comes back over.

“;Hawaii was just better than we were tonight. They were better at serve-and-pass and we struggled with serve-receive. And Hawaii's outside hitters are better at attacking out of system than they were last season.”;

Hawaii's middles were also effective, with Amber Kaufman and Nickie Thomas both finishing with eight kills on 16 attempts with one error.

Lindsey Yon led NMSU (8-7, 3-1) with 11 kills. Hawaii-born Krystal Torres, the Aggies senior libero, had 11 digs, below her 4.35 dps average.

Hawaii freshman hitter Kanani Herring (sprained left ankle) only played in the back row.

“;She's about 80 percent,”; Shoji said. “;If she's not needed (against San Jose State tomorrow), we won't use her.”;

Cubi-Otineru, the other injured Wahine (broken nose), took off her protective mask after Set 1.

“;All I know is I looked down and it was on the chair next to me,”; Shoji said.

 

Hawaii def. New Mexico State

26-24, 25-20, 25-23

Rainbow Wahine (11-2, 4-0)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

gkeattpctdbsbapts
Kaufman38116.4382006
Herring3000.0005000
Houston316637.27030015
Thomas38116.4380018.5
Mafua3204.5009003
Cubi-Otineru310623.174121010
Ferrell39521.19001110.5
Hittle3011-1.0006003
Keefe3000.0000000
Kaaihue1000.0000000
Brandt3000.0000000
Totals35320118.280372256

 

  New Mexico State (8-7, 3-1)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

gkeattpctdbsbapts
Birmingham3416.5002025
Gintant3102.5005001
Woods35310.2003015.5
Yon311637.13540110.5
Altermatt38119.3684018.5
Simpson39217.41220310.5
Torres3000.00011000
Devries3000.000500-1
Goodan3318.2500024
Totals3411499.2733601044

 

Key—g: games; k: kills; e: hitting errors; att: attempts; pct: hitting percentage; d: digs; bs: block solo; ba: block assists; pts: points (kills + blocks + aces - service errors)
Aces—Hawaii (5): Hittle 4, Mafua. New Mexico State (0): none. Assists—Hawaii (48): Mafua 41, Herring 4, Thomas, Hittle, Brandt. New Mexico State (40): Gintant 20, Devries 15, Torres 2, Birmingham, Woods, Altermatt. T—1:35. Officials—Syd Church, Craig Smith. A—2,347.
 

WAC Standings

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           


WLPct.GBAll
Hawaii
401.00011-2
New Mexico St.31.75018-7
Utah State
21.5001 1/2 4-10
Fresno St.
22.66725-8
San Jose St.
22.33326-8
Boise St.
12.5002 1/2 4-9
Idaho
12.0002 1/2 8-6
Nevada
13.33335-7
Louisiana Tech03.0003 1/2 2-8

  Wednesday
Boise State def. Idaho State, 14-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-23
Thursday
Hawaii def. Louisiana Tech, 25-11, 25-20, 25-16
Fresno State def. Utah State, 25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 13-25, 15-13
New Mexico State def. Idaho, 25-19, 25-18, 25-16
San Jose State def. Nevada, 26-24, 23-25, 22-25, 25-12, 15-7
Yesterday
Hawaii def. New Mexico State 26-24, 25-20, 25-23
Idaho def. Boise State 25-13, 23-25, 22-25, 25-14, 15-9
San Jose State def. Fresno State 25-19, 25-15, 25-22
Utah State def. Nevada 25-11, 17-25, 24-26, 25-22, 18-16
Today
Nevada at UNLV