Saturday, February 13, 1999

’Bows bomb Patriots

By Stan Constantino
Special to the Star-Bulletin

It took just under 90 minutes for the Hawaii men's volleyball team to dominate the George Mason Patriots last night in three games, 15-6, 15-9, 15-9.

However, come next week the Rainbows hope for focus and team intensity on the road against Long Beach State and Brigham Young.

"The major thing is we need to keep the focus at every point of the game, to never let it go," said junior middle blocker Andre Breuer.

"One problem that we encounter all season are those faces of letdowns. We again had it in game one and two ... we cannot afford it against good teams."

In the first game, the Rainbows were up 10-2 before the Patriots grabbed some momentum by reeling off three straight points, forcing Hawaii to take a timeout.

The Rainbows came out of the timeout with renewed energy, however, stealing the momentum back with a 5-1 run to take the game.

In game two, the Patriots took advantage of UH's hitting and setting errors to keep pace. After the game stood tied at eight apiece, the Rainbows seized control, taking seven of the next eight points to go up two games to none.

Hawaii's size and strength prevailed in a quick, one-sided third game.

The 'Bows dominated at the net with 11 blocks to just three for the Patriots.

Senior setter Mason Kuo had the Rainbow hitters in a groove, with each of them registering a hitting percentage over .400.

Compared to their game against the Rainbows on Wednesday, the Patriots played much better tonight, UH head coach Mike Wilton said.

"I expected them (to play) better. They probably felt they didn't play as well the first night."

Breuer led the Rainbows with 15 kills. Swing hitter Torry Tukuafu contributed 14 kills.

Tukuafu, who attended BYU for two years, said he is excited about the upcoming road trip.

"It's gonna be a fun game. They're a good team and we're a good team," Tukuafu said.

Tukuafu has more than some exciting volleyball to loof forward to on the road trip, though.

The day after Hawaii plays BYU in Provo, Tukuafu will marry Brigham Young-Hawaii volleyball player Andrea Gomez, who also hails from Utah.

Hawaii def. George Mason, 15-6, 15-9, 15-9

At Stan Sheriff Center

Patriots (4-2)

		g	k	e	at	pct.	bs	ba	d
Wight		3	14	6	25	.320	0	0	5
Prince		3	8	3	16	.313	0	1	2
Eglitis		3	3	1	7	.286	1	2	3
Moore		3	14	9	31	.161	0	0	1
Billauer	3	7	4	20	.150	0	0	9
Smith		3	6	3	12	.250	0	1	0
Brown		1	0	0	0	.000	0	0	0
Totals		3	52	26	111	.234	1	4	20

Rainbows (7-2)

		g	k	e	at	pct.	bs	ba	d
Miladinovic	3	12	3	19	.474	0	4	6
Kuo		3	0	1	3	-.333	0	2	4
Breuer		3	15	4	23	.478	1	6	5
Alifonso	3	4	1	6	.500	0	3	3
Stanley		3	11	2	19	.474	0	3	4
Tukuafu		3	14	3	23	.478	0	2	8
Lockwood	1	0	0	1	.000	0	0	1
Totals		3	56	14	94	.447	1	20	31

Key: g-games. k-kills. e-hitting errors. at-attempts. pct.-hitting percentage. bs-block solos. ba-block assists. d-digs.

Aces--GM (5): Prince 3, Wight 1, Eglitis 1. UH (8): Miladinovic 5, Breuer 1, Stanley 1, Tukuafu 1. Assists--GM (50): Eglitis 44, Moore 4, Wight 1, Billauer 1. UH (55): Kuo 49, Miladinovic 2, Alifonso 2, Breuer 1, Stanley 1.

A--5,614. T--1:29. Officials: Randy Shaw, Wayne Lee.

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1999 UH Men’s
Volleyball Schedule