Thursday, August 30, 2001
[ WAHINE VOLLEYBALL ]
Wahine ready Back-to-back losses aren't any team's ideal way of opening the season, but losing the first home match and equaling the worst start in 21 years would be worse.
to rebound
A winless start leaves
UH's volleyball team
looking for answersBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comThe Hawaii volleyball team knows that as it heads into this weekend's 14th annual Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic. Fifth-ranked Hawaii searches for its first win tomorrow night at 7 p.m. against No. 19 Kansas State. UCLA plays Michigan in the early match at 5 p.m. Hawaii hasn't lost a home opener since 1976 when it fell in four games to UCLA.
The two losses to top-ranked Nebraska and fourth-ranked Wisconsin at the State Farm Classic already match the number of losses Hawaii had all of last season.
At Stan Sheriff Center HAWAIIAN AIRLINES CLASSIC
Friday
>> UCLA vs. Michigan, 5 p.m.
>> Hawaii vs. Kansas State, 7 p.m.
Saturday
>> Kansas State vs. UCLA, 5 p.m.
>> Hawaii vs. Michigan, 7 p.m.
Sunday
>> Kansas State vs. Michigan, 5 p.m.
>> Hawaii vs. UCLA, 7 p.m.
"This is the most losses I've lost in a year but our win-loss record isn't important to me as long as the W's come at the end," setter Jennifer Carey said.
Besides picking up their first win, the Wahine also need to pick up the offense. Through two matches, Hawaii is hitting minus .181 as a team.
Sophomore Kim Willoughby pounded a career-high 21 kills against Wisconsin and Maja Gustin added 16 kills, but the rest of the offense was anemic.
"One of the focuses is trying to win a match," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "Our offense is a focus. We're going to try to get some more people involved."
They'll have to in order to take the pressure off Willoughby and Gustin, who are quickly assuming roles as go-to hitters. Hawaii's middles were largely unheard from in its first six games.
And the Wahine need to cut down on unforced serving and attacking errors. The Wahine surrendered 61 points in its first two matches.
"We need to play together as a team and eliminate the unforced errors," Carey said. "It's not a wash anymore when you miss your serve or hit the net.
"(Our goal) is just executing and what we've been working on in practice, instead of flailing around on the court. It comes down to communication and knowing where people are going and what they're doing on the court."
Notes:
Hawaii has won six classic titles overall including the last two. ... Kansas State is making its first appearance in the tournament while Michigan appears in its second. ... UCLA coach Andy Banachowski needs two wins to reach the 900-victory mark.
No. 7 UCLA
Coach: Andy Banaachowski, 35th year
2000 record: 25-8
Returning starters: Ashley Bowles, Lauren Fendrick, Kristee Porter, Erika Selsor
Series record: 30-26
No. 19 Kansas State
Coach: Susie Fritz, first year, replaces Jim McLaughlin who resigned in August to take the job at Washington
2000 record: 22-9
Returning starters: Cari Jensen, Jenny Pollard, Lisa Mimick, Liz Wegner
Series record: 1-0
Michigan
Coach: Mark Rosen, third year
2000 record: 19-14
Returning starters: Shannon Melka, Erin Moore, Katrina Lehman, Nicole Kacor
Series record: 1-0
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
