Tuesday, October 30, 2001
Wahine can’t It's not often that powerhouses from two different divisions get the opportunity to tangle.
afford letdown
Hawaii takes on defending
Game Day
Division II champion HPU todayBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comThe last time the Hawaii volleyball team played a Division II team was in 1998 against Brigham Young-Hawaii. Then, the Wahine barely survived the Seasiders in a five-game battle.
The opponent is different now, but the similarities and the upset possibilities exist. Hawaii (17-4, 9-0 Western Athletic Conference) plays Hawaii Pacific today at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Sea Warriors (16-3, 10-3 Pacific West Conference) are the defending Division II national champions (just as BYUH was the NAIA champion in 1997), and are coached by Tita Ahuna, a former Wahine whose sheer intensity and will drove UH to its last NCAA title in 1987.
Ahuna showed the same kind of determination last year in guiding HPU to a 28-0 season.
"She's done a great job over there," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "She's good at getting the most out of her players."
HPU opened the season 14-0 before its 42-match win streak was snapped by Hawaii-Hilo three weeks ago.
The Sea Warriors have struggled lately and are trying to regroup after a loss to BYUH on Saturday.
Ahuna says a win would boost the Sea Warriors' self esteem and could have ranking implications both regionally and nationally.
On paper, UH and HPU match up evenly, but Ahuna says the advantage goes to Hawaii.
"We're not as physically talented (this year), but we play with a lot of heart and hopefully that will get us through," Ahuna said. "They're a lot more talented than we are, but on any given day, any team can be beat. Right now they have the edge, but I don't see why we can't step up our game and give them a good run for their money."
Hawaii has more to lose than gain in playing this match. The Wahine's loss in 1992 to BYUH probably kept UH out of the NCAA tournament, the only time Hawaii has missed it.
Shoji doesn't know how the NCAA would view it, but he doesn't believe a loss to a Division II team would be more damaging than losing to an opponent not ranked above the Wahine.
"I don't think any Division I team likes to schedule a Division II team," Shoji said. "We did because we couldn't lose another home date. They offer us some good competition. The last time we played a local team was BYU-Hawaii, which had a lot of interest locally."
An exhibition match against Nittaidai University of Japan was canceled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The last time these teams met officially was in 1985, with UH winning in three. But the two squads played four games during a scrimmage in September, with HPU winning one game and almost taking another.
Note: The Wahine dropped one spot in the AVCA poll to No. 12. Penn State moved from No. 13 to No. 11 after defeating then-No. 5 Wisconsin. Hawaii moved up to No. 9 in the Volleyball Magazine poll.
When: Today 7 p.m. vs. Hawaii Pacific GameDay
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: KFVE, Ch. 5
Radio: Live, KCCN 1420-AM
Internet: uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Projected Starters
Hawaii (17-4, 9-0 WAC)
Ht. KPG Aces Digs S Margaret Vakasausau (Jr.) 5-8 0.37 7 2.36 OH Maja Gustin (So.) 6-3 3.68 19 0.96 OH Kim Willoughby (So.) 6-0 6.82 17 3.53 MB Nohea Tano (So.) 5-11 1.49 3 1.27 MB Lauren Duggins (So.) 6-0 1.85 16 2.88 Opp Tanja Nikolic (Sr.) 6-0 2.50 14 2.12 DS Hedder Ilustre (Jr.) 5-7 0.06 4 1.85
Hawaii Pacific (16-3, 10-3 PWC)
Ht. KPG Aces Digs S Nia Tuitele (Sr.) 5-9 1.03 24 2.80 OH Summer Castillo (Sr.) 5-6 2.01 17 2.66 OH Roberta Robert (Sr.) 6-0 4.86 20 3.78 MB Andrea Wean (Sr.) 6-2 4.54 20 2.31 MB Katy Wilson (So.) 5-11 0.33 0 0.26 Opp Teisa Fotu (Sr.) 5-11 2.53 31 3.05 DS Kea Wong (Sr.) 5-3 0.00 8 1.61
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