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Keeping Score
IT used to be one of the premier rivalries in women's college volleyball. Hawaii vs. The Beach. Going to the ‘Beach’
is no fun for the
WahineUntil Dec. 9, 1989, it had been incredibly one-sided. The Wahine took a 15-0 record against the 49ers into their NCAA regional championship match at Stockton, Calif.
Hawaii was to host the final four a week later at the Blaisdell. It was supposed to be a very Merry Christmas for Wahine fans ... until the Grinch showed up, wearing black and gold.
Long Beach State rallied to win, 11-15, 15-13, 10-15, 15-8, 15-10, that night. The tule fog - Stockton's version of Manoa mist - couldn't shroud the disappointment.
That victory launched the 49ers' title ship, and a national power was born. They went on to win the NCAA championship that year, and also in '93 and '98.
"But after all these years, I still think that game in 1989 with Hawaii was the best volleyball game I've ever seen played,'' Long Beach State coach Brian Gimmillaro said in a telephone call yesterday. "There were astonishing players on both sides of the floor that night making incredible plays.''
There were three National Players of the Year on the court: Hawaii's Teee Williams-Sanders and The Beach's Tara Cross and Antoinette White.
The memories aren't as good for Hawaii coach Dave Shoji. Since that night in the Spanos Center, his Wahine team has lost 14 of 20 meetings with the 49ers. The stretch includes an 0-11 run, one where Long Beach State ended Hawaii's season in the regionals four times in five years.
"My favorite match is anytime we've been fortunate to beat them,'' he said yesterday. "I was just thinking about that '89 match, being up 2-1 (in games) and being ahead 8-5 in Game 5 at the break.
"The last time we played at their place wasn't pleasant. We have not played well at The Pyramid.''
Actually, things were downright ugly in 1997.
Hawaii opened November there with its worst straight-set loss in the program's history (8-15, 5-15, 0-15). It lasted 74 minutes.
The Wahine opened - and closed - December with a 7-15, 7-15, 4-15 defeat to Loyola Marymount at the Pyramid in the NCAA first round.
The lot has changed in the past four seasons.
Hawaii is enjoying a 25-0 year, ranked No. 2 (or No. 1, depending on the poll). The Wahine also haven't seen a ranked team since mid-September.
The 49ers are having an "off season'' by their standards. They're 20-7, ranked No. 16, fighting through a number of injuries that saw their setter converted to an outside hitter at one point.
But nothing has changed in terms of importance. The teams meet again for the 37th time Saturday night.
Gimmillaro is convinced Hawaii will be hosting a regional in two weeks. Shoji isn't quite sure.
One computer ranking - similar to the BCS - has the Wahine at No. 6.
"I think we need this win to solidify our (hosting) position,'' said Shoji. "If not, we may be traveling.''
As long as it's not down memory lane.
At least this time, the match won't mean the end of one team's season.
The NCAA bids go out Sunday afternoon. Just as in 1989, Saturday's outcome could launch someone's title ship.
Cindy Luis is Star-Bulletin sports editor.
Her column appears periodically.
Email Cindy: cluis@starbulletin.com