Saturday, September 22, 2001
[ WAHINE VOLLEYBALL ]
Career nights Kim Willoughby, Maja Gustin, Lauren Duggins and Nohea Tano had career nights as the Hawaii volleyball team defeated Santa Clara 30-25, 28-30, 30-19, 30-25.
propel Wahine
Kim Willoughby leads the
attack with 35 kills as UH
beats Santa Clara in 4By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.com
A somber crowd of 4,451 (6,141 tickets issued) endured bag searches and heightened security at the Stan Sheriff Center. It wasn't the only reminder of last week's terrorist attacks, as "God Bless America" was sung instead of "Hawaii Pono'i" and a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of the thousands who died.
Willoughby led the attacking with 35 kills and Gustin hammered 24 to lead No. 12 Hawaii (5-4) over No. 20 Santa Clara (7-2) in what Wahine head coach Dave Shoji called a big match.
"I didn't want any extra pressure on our team, but this was a very big win for us," Shoji said. "We needed this. We've been working very hard the last two weeks. I expected us to play better and we did."
The all-around hitting effort by the Wahine -- including eight kills from Duggins and four from Tano, who came off the bench in Game 2 -- helped Hawaii outhit Santa Clara .294-.183.
The Wahine opened with an 8-3 lead, but a 7-5 Bronco run brought Santa Clara within three at 13-10. Hawaii continued to build its lead behind the hitting of Willoughby. The sophomore hitter's seventh kill gave UH a 24-18 lead. It seemed as though Hawaii had the game locked up at 28-20, but Becky Potter served five straight points including two aces to pull Santa Clara within three at 28-25.
A kill by Gustin and a hitting error by Jessie Mechem ended the game.
Hawaii led 5-3 in Game 2, but Santa Clara scored three straight points. Neither team held more than a two-point advantage throughout the game, trading points. The Wahine held a 27-24 lead, but kills by Jami Bari and Mechem and a hitting error by Gustin knotted the score.
Gustin's 12th kill evened the score at 28, but a kill by Mechem and a Hawaii net violation evened the match at one game apiece.
The sleepy Santa Clara offense awoke in the second game and hit .341 after attacking at only a .109 clip in the first game. Both squads went often to their top hitters in Game 2. Willoughby had seven kills and Gustin pounded eight, while Mechem added six kills and Bari had five for the Broncos.
Shoji used both Jennifer Carey and Margaret Vakasausau in Game 3. The 6-2 offense worked and Carey helped Hawaii take a 13-6 lead with two aces. Willoughby pounded nine more kills and seemed to tire a little after being set 57 times. Hawaii was mostly unchallenged in the game. The Wahine held the Broncos to .075 attack and dug 18 balls during the game.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii