Thursday, February 18, 1999

’Bows get
’Beached

The UH men's volleyball
team is swept by
Long Beach

From staff and wire reports

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Out of the frying pan and into the fire. That's how the No. 7 University of Hawaii men's volleyball teams feels.

The Rainbows were scorched in 95 minutes last night by undefeated and third-ranked Long Beach State, 15-8, 15-13, 15-7. Hawaii got on a plane today and headed to Provo, Utah, where it will face unbeaten and top-ranked Brigham Young.

"Last night was pretty ugly all the way around," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "It was the least productive performance of any team I've coached in Hawaii in seven years.

"I can't explain it. I thought the team was really fired up for this one."

Instead, the Rainbows (7-3 overall, 3-2 MPSF) were burned by the 49ers (8-0, 6-0). A crowd of 1,019 at The Pyramid saw The Beach pull away at the end of each game.

Wilton switched setters at the start of Game 2, using junior backup Russell Lockwood in place of senior Mason Kuo. The Rainbows responded, jumping out to a 13-8 lead.

But the 49ers rallied for seven unanswered points behind David McKienzie (15 kills) and Jim Polster (11 kills).

"We just fell apart," said Wilton. "We keep it close, then faded. We have all kinds of problems and are still having trouble on the first (passing) and second (setting) contact."

Clay Stanley finished with a team-high 12 kills and Torry Tukuafu added 11.

"It's going to be real tough for us up at BYU," said Wilton. "They're playing very well right now."

The Cougars are off to their best-ever start at 10-0 (8-0 MPSF). Tomorrow's match will be played at the 22,000-seat Marriott Center, where BYU is attempting to break the single-match attendance record of 10,255 held by Hawaii.

College men

Last night's result

Long Beach State def. Hawaii, 15-8, 15-13, 15-7

At Long Beach, Calif.

Rainbows (7-3, 3-2 MPSF)

		g	k	e	at	pct.
Miladinovic	3	5	6	18	-.056
Kuo		3	1	0	2	.500
Breuer		3	9	8	23	.043
Alifonso	3	4	1	8	.375
Stanley		3	12	9	32	.094
Tukuafu		3	11	9	32	.063
Kosty		1	0	0	1	.000
Davis		1	3	3	10	.000
Lockwood	1	0	0	0	.000
	Totals	3	45	36	126	.071

49ers (8-0, 6-0 MPSF)

		g	k	e	at	pct.
Jackson		3	4	2	12	.167
Prosser		3	8	3	14	.357
Seiffert	3	1	1	4	.000
Faber		3	3	3	8	.000
Mason		2	8	4	16	.250
Polster		3	11	6	27	.185
Dahl		2	0	0	0	.000
McKienzie	3	15	5	31	.323
	Totals	3	50	24	112	.232

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

Aces--UH (2): Miladinovic 1, Alifonso 1. Long Beach State (3): Seiffert 1, Faber 1, Polster 1. Assists--UH (42): Kuo 24, Lockwood 13, Breuer 2, Miladinovic 1, Stanley 1, Tukuafu 1. Long Beach State (48): Seiffert 46, Jackson 2. Digs--UH (25): Stanley 7, Tukuafu 6, Alifonso 4, Kuo 3, Breuer 2, Kosty 1, Davis 1, Lockwood 1. Long Beach State (35): Jackson 10, Polster 9, Seiffert 4, Faber 4, Prosser 3, Mason 3, McKienzie 2. Blocks--UH (20 total, 2 solo/18 assist): Breuer 1/5, Miladinovic 1/3, Tukuafu 0/6, Kuo 0/2, Stanley 0/1, Lockwood 0/1. Long Beach State (31 total, 3 solo/28 assist): Prosser 1/4, McKienzie 1/4, Seiffert 1/2, Faber 0/9, Polster 0/4, Jackson 0/3, Mason 0/2.

A--1,019. T--1:35.