Tuesday, August 28, 2001
Sea Warriors sting The Hawaii Pacific University women's volleyball team won its 29th straight match last night. But it was the first win for the 2001 season and a handful of new players.
Saints in opener
Visiting St. Martin's takes
defending national champion
Hawaii Pacific to four gamesBy Brandon Lee
blee@starbulletin.comThe defending national champion and No. 4-ranked Sea Warriors (1-0) downed St. Martin's (Wash.) College 29-31, 30-27, 31-29 and 30-23 in their season and home opener before approximately 185 fans at St. Andrew's Priory Gymnasium.
But unlike last year, when HPU dismantled virtually every one of its 28 opponents with ease in becoming the first NCAA Division II team to go through a season undefeated in 20 years, the Sea Warriors battled for the nonconference victory last night.
Gone are four powerful hitters from last year's group. In their places are two first-time starters and another returning from injury after starting in the Sea Warriors' other Division II championship year, 1998.
"We struggled tonight," sixth-year HPU coach Tita Ahuna said. "We were uptight, we were nervous. But we got our first win under our belts and we know we have a lot of things to work on. I'm looking at this very optimistically."
Two-time first-team All-American and 2000 Pacific West Conference Player of the Year, senior setter Nia Tuitele, and PacWest All-Star senior outside hitter Roberta Robert, are two key holdovers from last year's team who guided the Sea Warriors through the rough spots last night. Tuitele dished out a match-high 53 assists to go along with nine kills, seven digs, two block assists and a service ace. Robert had a match-high 23 kills for a .365 hitting percentage, with nine digs and two aces.
"It was way different (than last year)," Tuitele said. "It took a lot of teamwork and a lot of heart, but we have three or four new people out there. We knew they felt pressure, but they did well (considering)."
For the game, HPU outhit St. Martin's .290 to .215. Leading the way for the Saints in defeat were setter Katie Zukowski with 52 assists and middle blocker Alicia Denny with 16 kills. Like HPU, St. Martin's (1-4) also has a lot of newcomers to this year's roster, including eight freshmen and no seniors.
"They don't have all their guns, but they're still a great team," Saints coach Clyde Reis said of HPU. "Once you become a champion, you're the champion until somebody beats you."
Up next, St. Martin's visits Laie tonight at 7:30 for Brigham Young-Hawaii's season opener, while the Sea Warriors have a couple days of practice before traveling to the Big Island for the Hawaiian Style Classic Tournament hosted by Hawaii-Hilo.
http://www.hpu.edu