Tuesday, September 7, 1999
HPU’s best start proves point
By Ben Henry
Special to the Star-BulletinHawaii Pacific coach Tita Ahuna wanted to prove that last year's national championship was no fluke.
After sweeping eight matches in six days - including matches against the No. 2, 5 and 22 ranked teams in NCAA Division II - she may have done just that.
With yesterday's 15-4, 15-3, 15-5 win over Peru State, the team concluded its marathon week, emerging as the clear-cut favorite this season.
The Sea Warriors, 9-0 and off to their best start in school history, haven't lost a set the entire season. But the victory that stands out most is Saturday's win over rival Brigham Young-Hawaii - ranked second in NCAA-II (next to HPU), and winner of five out of six matches against HPU last season. It was the first time HPU swept BYUH in six years.
"I think it was a good challenge for us early in the season," Ahuna said. "We'll use that match as a steppingstone for the rest of our season."
HPU's success has prompted some to label Ahuna's program a budding dynasty.
"I just want to create a top-notch program - that's all I want," she said. "I don't know if you can call it a dynasty, but we're getting there."
Ahuna says HPU was able to survive last week partly because it only had to play three sets a match.
"We don't want to break that streak," she said. "We can't afford to play more than three sets a match. In my eyes, we need to win."
HPU, which hasn't held a top spot in a poll since 1990, is learning what being No. 1 is all about. Peru State head coach Todd Jensen - twice a Sea Warrior victim this season - says HPU is a marked team.
"We'd definitely rather open the season against a tougher team than we would against a weaker team, because that's going to bring our play up," he said.
"The first time we played them over in Hilo last week, they might have intimidated us a little bit. They're a great team."
Now the battle-weary Sea Warriors rest. Their next official match is Sept 18 against Chaminade.
"The ladies are really tired - I think we could have done a little better (last night)," Ahuna said. "Our team is pretty bruised up right now."
Despite the success this season, Ahuna says her team can do even better.
"The only weakness we have right now is not the talent aspect, but the chemistry," she said. "If we can maintain chemistry throughout the season, I think we'll do all right."
NOTES:
Newcomer Flavia Gabinio, Hawaiian Style MVP, has been nursing a minor knee injury and didn't play yesterday. ... Debbie Sant' Anna, who led the team in kills last season, was perfect yesterday, recording 15 kills in 25 attempts without a single error. This, despite a shoulder problem that forced her to sit out yesterday.
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