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WAHINE PLAYBOOK

at Tulsa

First serve: Tomorrow, 3 p.m, .Donald Reynolds Center.

Coaches: Hawaii, Dave Shoji, 26th season (732-137, .842). Tulsa, Matt Sonnichsen, 3rd season (38-43, .469).

Season records: Hawaii (12-0 WAC, 22-0 overall); Tulsa (3-9 WAC, 17-9 overall).

Series record: UH leads series, 5-0.

Top players: Hawaii, .Kim Willoughby, 6-0, Fr., RS, 2.98 kpg, 2.87 dpg, .258; Jennifer Carey, 6-1, So. S, 12.45 apg, 2.28 dpg; Jessica Sudduth, 6-2, Sr., LS, 3.34 kpg, 2.29 dpg; Lily Kahumoku, 6-2, So., LS, 4.55 kpg,2.16 dpg, .332; Veronica Lima, 6-2, Jr., MB, 2.93kpg, 2.31 dpg, 1.17bpg; Maja Gustin, 6-2, Fr., MB, 2.65 kpg, 1.71 bpg, .370. Tulsa, Kristien Van Lierop, 5-8, Sr., OH, 3.80 kpg, 3.08 dpg, .264; Shannon Smith, 5-11, Sr., S, 11.67 apg, 2.52 dpg.

Interesting facts: Hawaii's WAC streak is now 35 matches ... In their last 94 conference matches -- Big West and WAC -- the Wahine have lost only once....Hawaii's .301 team hitting percentage ranks 1st in the WAC and 6th nationally...The team's 3.24 blocking average is 1st in the WAC and 9th nationally...Gustin leads the WAC in blocking and hitting percentage. She is 5th nationally in blocking.

Game keys: Shoji wants to see smarter hitting and fewer unforced errors than he saw in the 3-0 win against Fresno State .. .He also would like to see if Kahumoku is ready to move back to the back row.

On the air: Broadcast live on KCCN (1420-AM).

On the Internet: http//uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Sportslive/listen.html.

End quote: "We just want to go up there, stay healthy, get the win and come home to prepare for the last homestand." Dave Shoji

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Pat Bigold, Star-Bulletin

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WAHINE HOOPS NOTEBOOK

Sijercic, Abele
sign with UH

Arijana Sijercic and Jade Abele signed national letters of intent yesterday to play for the women's basketball team at the University of Hawaii starting with the 2001-02 season.

Sijercic, a 6-foot-2 center from Sarajevo, Bosnia, plays for New Mexico Junior College. She averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds a game last year when she earned all-region honors as a freshman.

"Arijana is a physical, rugged post player with a solid inside game," Wahine head coach Vince Goo said.

Abele, a 6-1 wing player who graduates from Marymount College in Currumbin, Queensland, Australia, this month, will enroll at UH in January.

She won't be eligible to play, but will get a head start by practicing with the team, much the same way former Wahine Raylene Howard did in 1996.

When Goo visited Australia in 1999 to recruit Mel Croser, she told the UH coach of Abele's interest in playing for Hawaii.

"She's a really good 3 player. She has a nice outside shot for a 6-1 player and possesses a lot of quickness," Goo said.

"She needs to work on her perimeter defense and we've told her that. She works out individually with her club coach before school each morning."

Yesterday was the first day of the early signing period that runs through next Wednesday.

Milia Macfarlane, a point guard from Punahou who committed to UH during the summer, is expected to sign next week once the state high school volleyball tournament is over.

Practice going well

"We've got at least two people at every position, not just starting at a position but competing for playing time," Goo said.

Senior Dainora Puida is leading at the 5 spot. Senior Kylie Galloway is leading at the 4 and junior Janka Gabrielova is leading at the point.

Wing players seeking a starting berth are senior Crystal Lee, junior Karena Greeny and freshmen April Atuaia, Christa Brossman and Croser.

"The work ethic has been excellent. It's their attitude," said Goo.

"When they don't understand, they ask questions. They have picked things up very quickly, a lot quicker than most teams I can remember."

No surprise

Goo indicated there haven't been any surprises.

He did mention Atuaia, but said he is not surprised. "I think she's doing things now we thought she would do maybe a little later down the road. She is perhaps a starter, if not, a lot of minutes. She can play the 1, 2 or 3 positions. She reminds me a lot coming out of high school of Kaui Wakita. April has really progressed nicely."

Injury report

Julia Washington, a sophomore forward, is nursing a bruised left foot.

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Al Chase, Star-Bulletin