Monday, March 8, 1999

’Bows hit the road
looking for revenge

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

Relegated to No. 1 sub, Clay Stanley has been trying to break back into the starting lineup for the past few weeks. Saturday night's performance against UC Santa Barbara may have done the trick.

The sophomore for the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team pounded 30 kills, hitting .447, as the Rainbows pulled out a 12-15, 15-7, 15-12, 15-7 victory over the Gauchos at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawaii is looking to strengthen its hold on the No. 2 spot in the Pacific Division of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, taking a four-match win streak on the road to Long Beach State on Friday and Pepperdine on Saturday.

The trip has particular significance to Stanley. When the Rainbows faced the host 49ers last month, Hawaii not only got swept, but Stanley lost his opposite spot to Brenton Davis.

"It was a big nightmare," Stanley said. "We didn't play at all."

Stanley has found a semi-permanent home at pass-swing, a position that has been a revolving door this season for Hawaii. Saturday against the Gauchos, his passing got stronger - as did the Rainbows' - allowing senior setter Mason Kuo to utilize a multi-

pronged attack.

While Torry Tukuafu (33 kills) was steady the entire match, the connection between Kuo and Breuer (22 kills, .545) solidified during the critical third game. Hawaii gradually pulled away in the tight contest, getting the last point on a net violation by UCSB.

The Rainbows jumped out to a 13-3 lead in Game 4 only to lose focus. The Gauchos mounted a late rally, but it wasn't enough as they lost their fifth straight.

"I'm glad we got through that one," Hawaii coach Mike Wilton said after the 2 hour, 52-minute match. "I didn't think we were ready and Torry (Tukuafu) was hoarse in Game 1, trying to exhort the team.

"We were trying to get ourselves turned on but couldn't sustain it. If we do something like this on the road trip, we'll get spanked."

"We'd like to get back at Long Beach," said Stanley. "I think we got some confidence out of this weekend. We kind of let it slide early but then we were able to jump back on it. That's been our season ... up and down."