Monday, October 15, 2001
[ WAHINE VOLLEYBALL ]
Wahine all alone Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said that every team in the Western Athletic Conference was cause for concern. But Hawaii's thumping of Southern Methodist last night indicated otherwise.
in first place
after win
Carey collects 23 assists as
Hawaii sweeps SMU
and improves to 12-4By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comBefore a paltry crowd of 3,852 at the Stan Sheriff Center, the Wahine swept the Mustangs 30-16, 30-21, 30-26.
Hawaii improved to 12-4 and 5-0 in the WAC to take sole possession of first place in the conference. Previously unbeaten Nevada lost to San Jose State and Fresno State over the weekend.
The Wahine didn't dominate the match like others they won on the road, but they did take advantage of a young SMU squad that struggled with two different setters.
Jackie Erazmus started the match but was replaced by regular starter Tara Hatfield midway through the second game. Hatfield improved the Mustangs' hitting by 200 points, but SMU had a hard time at the serving line with 11 errors to two aces.
The situation was almost identical on the Hawaii side of the net but with better results.
Jennifer Carey came off the bench in the second game for Margaret Vakasausau and posted 23 assists while guiding Hawaii to a .361 attack percentage.
Vakasausau was hampered by a right hip contusion (bruise) that limited her mobility. The black-and-blue mark is eight inches wide on her upper right thigh and didn't allow her to push off on the leg, nor could she lower her body to play defense.
But Hawaii's depth at the setter position made the transition smooth.
"We've got two outstanding setters and it's just a plus for our team," Shoji said. "There's no drop off.
"I thought SMU made us play hard. I was really impressed with their passing. They had very few hitting errors until right at the end. They made us work for our points."
The Mustangs didn't put much of a block up as the Wahine outblocked them 12-2. But they nearly outdug the Wahine, 49 digs to 50 and they forced the Wahine to take multiple swings at the ball.
"They played a great game and the setters gave all their hitters eight or nine kills," Willoughby said. "But we have two players that can really dominate the game and that's one thing they didn't have.
"They don't really have the size and strength. They did a great job on defense. Every time you hit it, they were digging a ball so I had to change the way I approached it. I started tipping the ball and that worked."
SMU may have forced Willoughby to change her approach, but the Mustangs couldn't stop her. But no one has lately. The NCAA Division I kill leader was the Wahine's top hitter and defender, posting 22 kills and 13 digs. It was her 12th double-double of the season.
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Ka Leo O Hawaii