Saturday, November 17, 2001
[ WAHINE VOLLEYBALL ]
SAN JOSE, Calif. >> Hawaii coach Dave Shoji wasn't thrilled about the prospect of playing a team three times in one season but at least one Wahine volleyball player can be happy. Wahine face familiar foe
in Fresno State todayBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comSetter Margaret Vakasausau got her wish for a competitive match when Fresno State defeated Rice in five games in the second quarterfinal match of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.
After playing in the first match of the day, Vakasausau didn't know who the Wahine would face in today's semifinal but she knew the type of match she wanted to play.
"I definitely want to play the team that's going to be the most fired up," Vakasausau said. "Fresno or Rice, whoever wants to play the hardest because we want a hard match. We don't want an easy match."
Hawaii swept Tulsa 30-18, 30-14, 30-17 yesterday to move into today's early semifinal against Fresno State at 3 p.m. Hawaii time.
The Bulldogs won in five after dropping the first two games. Fresno State coach Lindy Vivas, a Punahou grad, used three different lineups to win. It is that kind of lineup shuffling that could give Hawaii fits today.
"Both (Fresno State) outside hitters had good matches against us," Shoji said. "We didn't block well this afternoon. We really have to shore that up and see if we can go back to some techniques and block better.
"They played a little different lineup against us in Hawaii, so I'm interested in seeing what they'll do. We didn't have a chance to work against that lineup, so it bothered us just a little bit. We'll see what they'll do."
The last time the teams met, Vivas moved middle blocker Shauna McQuaid to the right side and the shift succeeded in slowing Kim Willoughby somewhat. McQuaid, however, played in the middle and dominated last night with 20 kills and five blocks against Rice.
Vivas isn't sure what lineup she'll use, but much will depend on whether her players show up. If the Bulldogs block well and have an outstanding offensive outing, they may have a chance in getting their first win in 28 tries against Hawaii.
She also noted with some irony that serving tough may not be in the Bulldogs' best interest.
"I thought we competed really well the last time we played Hawaii," Vivas said. "That might be the best thing we have going in -- that the team knows if they can play at the top of their game that's when we might have an opportunity.
"Hawaii has so many offensive weapons, but obviously Kim's a huge one. We just think that if they get into any kind of passing or ball-control trouble, then they have to go to the left side. And then you have to do something about it."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
