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Monday, November 6, 2000
The University of Hawaii women's volleyball team is on the verge of its longest winning streak in five seasons. Wahine trying to
match win streakBy Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinWith a victory at Tulsa on Friday, the Wahine (No. 2 AVCA/USA Today, No. 1 Volleyball Magazine) will match their 1996 streak of 23 wins.
That's the last year they made it to the NCAA championship match, where the Wahine lost to Stanford.
But with Hawaii's run through a relatively weak conference come the inevitable lapses in concentration.
Neither the 15-10, 15-7, 15-6 sweep of San Jose State nor the 15-7, 15-9, 15-5 sweep of Fresno State was the work of art fans expect from the Wahine.
"We'll have to have fewer unforced errors and the hitters will have to recognize where the open spots are," said Hawaii head coach Dave Shoji.
"We're not having to think too much when we play now and consequently we do make some unforced errors.
"We've got to eliminate those before the playoffs."
Freshman middle blocker Maja Gustin pleased Shoji with her heightened performance in the two sweeps.
Gustin made 22 kills and was in on 12 blocks.
"I think Jenn Carey is finding her more on a regular basis," Shoji said. "They'd misfired a lot this season because timing takes awhile to work out. But it seems to be working well now."
He said freshman outside hitter Lily Kahumoku, who has come back slowly from her wrist injury with 13 kills in the past two matches, is still limited in what she can do.
"She still has pain in that wrist and can not pass or play defense," Shoji said. "So, we've had to hold her out of the back row. But I'm hoping she'll get back there this week. We really need her back there."
Shoji said Kahumoku played the past two matches because she still can hit.
He said she did not use any painkiller Saturday night.
"I don't think it hurt her too much and it doesn't hurt her to block so I think she just played with the pain," Shoji said. "And we're just hoping she can get better and get back into the lineup on a full-time basis."
He said he will start Kahumoku in the front row at Tulsa.
Shoji said he's not overly concerned with the last road game in the WAC schedule.
"We just want to go up there, stay healthy, get the win and come home to prepare for the last homestand," he said.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
