UH vs. Pepperdine
WAHINE VOLLEYBALL PLAYBOOK
By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin
Tomorrow and Saturday: Stan Sheriff Center, 7 p.m.
Coaches: Hawaii, Dave Shoji, 26th season (718-137-1, .839). Pepperdine, Nina Matthies, 18th season (320-215, .598).
Season records: Wahine (0-0 WAC, 8-0 overall); Waves (0-0 West Coast, 9-0 overall).
Series record: Hawaii leads series, 18-3.
Top players: Hawaii, Kim Willoughby, RS, Fr., 6-0, 3.13 kpg, 2.75 dpg, .288; Jennifer Carey, S., So., 6-1, 12.41 apg, 2.73 dpg; Jessica Sudduth, LS, Sr., 6-2, 3.19 kpg, 2.50 dpg; Lily Kahumoku, LS, So., 6-2, 4.60 kpg, 2.40 dpg, .323; Veronica Lima, MH, Jr., 6-2, 2.96 kpg, 2.58 dpg, .377; Maja Gustin, MH, Fr. 6-2, 2.40 kpg,1.52 bpg, .349 bpg. Pepperdine, Stacy Rouwenhorst, OH, So., 6-2, 3.63 kpg, 2.07 dpg, .363; Jennifer Fopma, MB, So., 6-3, 2.81 kpg, .291; Kate Taylor, MB, Jr., 6-3, 2.37 kpg, 1.20 bpg, .359; Melissa Snow, OH, Jr., 5-10, 2.87 kpg, 2.30 dpg.
Interesting facts: The Wahine remain at No. 2 in the polls while the Waves are at No. 8...The last time the Waves visited Hawaii (1997), they upset the Wahine, 3-2. The last time the teams faced each other was in Malibu two years ago, when Hawaii defeated Pepperdine, 3-0...The Wahine have three wins over nationally ranked teams this year...Last year, Hawaii won its first 17 matches before losing to Stanford. In 1995, the Wahine won 31 before losing...Lima leads the WAC in hitting with her .377...Gustin's 1.52 bpg is second in the conference...The Wahine lead the WAC in service aces with 1.92 per game...The team leads in national attendance, averaging 6,707 tickets sold per match...Pepperdine finished 14-0 last year in the West Coast Conference and No. 10 in the AVCA/USA Today poll.
Game keys: The Wahine must be able to hit wisely and avoid the big, physical blocks the Waves can execute. Hawaii must exploit Pepperdine's defensive weaknesses with superior ball control. The Wahine might be deeper than Pepperdine, with five capable subs, including junior right sider Tanja Nikolic, who has three starts this year.
On the air: Broadcast live on KCCN (1420 AM) and KFVE (Channel 5)
RealAudio: Live 'Net broadcast Click Here
End quote: "We will need a sweep of Pepperdine to be a Top 4 team and that's what we need to host a regional." -- Shoji.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
