Friday, November 26, 1999
6:30 p.m., HST

Kahumoku,
Sudduth kill
Wildcats

Wahine beat
Arizona in 4 sets

From Star-Bulletin staff
and wire reports

TUCSON, Arizona - Freshman hitter Lily Kahumoku had 17 kills and Jessica Sudduth added 11 as No. 3 Hawaii turned back a serious challenge from No. 19 Arizona tonight, 4-15, 15-7, 15-13, 15-10, in a wild women's volleyball match at the McKale Center.

The Wahine (26-1), winning their ninth in a row, will take on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Saturday (10 a.m. HST). In tonight's opener of the Starwoods Plaza Hotel Thanksgiving Invitational, Cal Poly (20-7) swept UTEP (5-23), 15-7, 15-8, 15-2.

Barring an upset by the Mustangs tomorrow, the Wahine should be hosting through the final four. Hawaii learns the postseason schedule Sunday when the NCAA Tournament pairings are announced; the Wahine will host the first- and second-round matches next Thursday and Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center and expect to also host a regional the following week.

Tonight's match between the Wahine and Wildcats (18-10) saw two yellow cards given to Hawaii, including one on Hawaii coach Dave Shoji for arguing a call. Arizona coach Dave Rubio was slapped with a yellow card and then a red card during a critical point in Game 4 that gave the Wahine the serve back.

Hawaii led 4-1 in Game 1 but gave up 14 unanswered points in dropping the first set for just the third time this season. The Wahine rallied from a 6-4 deficit in Game 2 to outscore the Wildcats, 11-1, and even the match.

Hawaii again had to come from behind in Game 3, trailing at 9-4 and again at 13-10. Kills by Kahumoku and a flu-stricken Veronica Lima led a 5-0 final run that closed out Game 3.

The Wahine appeared to take control in Game 4, jumping ahead 11-5. The Wildcats pulled to within 11-10 but a kill by Kahumoku gave Hawaii the serve back.

Margaret Vakasausau never gave it back, serving five consecutive points for the victory.

The Wahine ran their road record this season to 9-0.

Hawaii senior blocker Heather Bown, also slowed by the flu, finished with 10 kills.

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