ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2001
The Wahine opened last season with the NACWAA/State Farm Volleyball Classic, losing to Nebraska and Wisconsin.
UH bids The University of Hawaii has submitted a bid to host the 2003 NACWAA/State Farm Volleyball Classic.
to host tourney
Hawaii makes an effort to bring
one of the most prestigious preseason
volleyball tournaments hereStar-Bulletin staff
The annual preseason tournament showcases four of the top Division I teams in the country. The National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators began sponsoring the Classic in 1995. Stanford won the inaugural tournament with a field that included Cal State Northridge, Penn State and Nebraska. Hawaii has played in the tournament twice (1996, 2001) but never hosted. The Wahine won in 1996.
"They've been encouraging us to put in our bid for a number of years now," said UH senior women's administrator Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano. "They'll probably announce it at NACWAA next month. I don't think that many schools actually bid for it.
"I'm sure it'll give us more exposure for Hawaii volleyball. Everyone knows about the crowds we get and the kind of support we have. It will be a good sign to help support our team. The timing is really good because the next couple of years we should have some of the best teams we've ever had."
Defending national champion Stanford, Pepperdine and Northern Iowa join host Minnesota as the teams in this year's field. The NACWAA committee selects the teams for the tournament in January after the NCAA championships.
Pacific hosted last year's event and was the only team among the four that didn't participate in the 2000 final four. Hawaii finished 0-2 in the tournament and was swept by Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers defeated the Tigers for the tournament title.
Nebraska and Penn State have made the most appearances in the tournament with four each. Florida is next with three while Stanford, Hawaii, and Wisconsin have played in two. No team has won the tournament twice.
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