Saturday, September 1, 2001
[ WAHINE VOLLEYBALL ]
Wahine tame The Hawaii volleyball team was searching for its elusive first victory and it found it in dramatic fashion last night.
Wildcats in five
game set
UH captures a dramatic
match against visiting
Kansas StateBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comBefore a crowd of 5,273 at the 14th annual Hawaiian Airlines Classic, fifth-ranked Hawaii rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat No. 19 Kansas State 19-30, 26-30, 30-24, 30-25, 15-8.
The Wahine (1-2) barely averted losing their first home opener since 1976 and the first 0-3 start for the season since 1980.
"It was a fun match to be involved in once we started playing better," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "Our team responded well to making some adjustments and having a little more emotion after Game 2. We just didn't have much to start that match. We were really fortunate to turn things around."
Setter Margaret Vakasausau sparked the comeback win when she replaced Jennifer Carey after the second game. Vakasausau notched 39 assists but she credits an emotional team meeting in between the second and third games as the key to the turnaround.
"The team just got so angry with themselves," Vakasausau said. "We had a yelling match in between games two and three. Every single hitter just screamed at me 'I want the ball'. There was no way Kansas State was going to beat us in our home."
Kim Willoughby led the attack and the defense with a match-high 24 kills and 14 digs. Tanja Nikolic overcame a slow start and pounded a career-high 17 kills, including eight in the third game to help change the momentum of the match.
"We came out and did a nice job of holding the emotion a little bit," Kansas State coach Suzie Fritz said. "Hawaii just started playing a lot better in Game 3. We didn't make a lot of unforced errors so we made them earn it. They can put up a pretty nice block with (Melody) Eckmier and Willoughby.
Eckmier led the Wahine in blocks with 10 as Hawaii outblocked Kansas State 18-10.
The Wahine also outdug the Wildcats 70-60. Hedder Ilustre dug 10 balls and prowled the backline for the Wahine in her first start.
Wildcat setter Laura Downey had Hawaii's defense scrambling early in the match. Downey spread the offense to all three outside hitters who registered double-digit kills. Liz Wegner and Jenny Pollard each had 19 kills for the Wildcats, while Lisa Mimick added 16.
"We couldn't stop their outside hitters," Shoji said. "We just weren't blocking smartly and they got a lot of kills in the beginning of the match."
Opening night nerves may have played a role in Game 1 as the Wahine committed 10 hitting errors and had only 11 kills as a team. Kansas State hit for an astounding .455 to Hawaii's .026. Jenny Pollard had six kills and no errors in 12 attempts.
But the Wahine settled down in the second game and took an early 7-2 lead. The blocking of Eckmier and Lauren Duggins slowed outside hitter Wegner, but the Wildcats clawed their way back to take a 20-17 lead. Mimick started the run with an ace when Kansas trailed 16-15. Wegner pounded four kills including the game winner.
The Wahine play Michigan tonight at 7.
In the opening match of the tournament, UCLA coach Andy Banachowski earned his 899th career victory. The Bruins took less than an hour and a half to sweep the Wolverines 30-25, 30-17, 30-21.
The Bruins outhit the Wolverines .350 to .171 and held them to a negative percentage in Game 2.
"We're trying to establish a little more variety with what we're doing offensively," Banachowski said. "I was pleased with how successful our middles were."
Yesterday Hawaiian Airlines Classic
At Stan Sheriff Center
Michigan 25 17 21 UCLA 30 30 30 Kill leaders--Michigan: Erin Moore 14, Nicole Poquette 8, Nicole Kacor 7; UCLA: Kristee Porter 14, Ashley Bowles 10, Lauren Fendrick 9.
Service ace leaders--Michigan: Katrina Lehhman 2, Carrie Ritchie 2; UCLA: Ashley Bowles 4, Kristee Porter 3, Laurend Fendrick 3.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii