GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH's Kim Willoughby blasted a kill past Colorado's Allie Griffin and Drew Hays yesterday.
UH sweeps Buffs It was one of the premier rivalries in women's college volleyball in the 1970s and '80s.
UCLA beats Ohio St. to set up
a showdown in today's finalBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comHawaii vs. UCLA.
For the first two years of the Wahine's intercollegiate life, it meant the national title. The Bruins won both, in 1974 and 1975.
In 1981, the match sold out Blaisdell Arena, the attendance of 7,523 setting a national record that stood for years.
The teams meet at 5 p.m. today for the 59th time, the most Hawaii has played any team in its 29 seasons.
And for the 13th time in the history of the 15-year Hawaiian Airlines Classic, it will be for the championship. No. 4 Hawaii (2-0) and No. 11 UCLA (2-0) are both 33-11 in this event and both have won six titles.
Both won yesterday's matches at the Stan Sheriff Center with a sweep in front of 5,443 (7,123 tickets issued). The Bruins disposed of No. 9 Ohio State 30-25, 30-25, 30-22, in the opener; the Wahine followed with a 30-18, 30-21, 30-22 victory over No. 21 Colorado.
Don't tell the coaches that it's not one of the best rivalries still going.
"It's amazing how close we are in wins and losses," said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji, who leads the series with UCLA 30-28. "That's why we have them back. They're good every year.
"Last year, they were better than us twice and they deserved it. We're hoping that we're better than them this year."
UCLA ended Hawaii's season in the Northwest Regional semifinal, 3-1. Sophomore hitter Lily Kahumoku wasn't in the lineup, taking the year off. She is very motivated to play today.
"It's going to be a battle," said Kahumoku, who had a match-high 13 kills last night. "We need to come out prepared. We always get up for UCLA."
Maja Gustin is ready as well. The junior middle, hampered by plantar fasciitis in her left foot, was solid in Games 2 and 3. She finished with 10 kills and no errors in 17 swings and was in on four of Hawaii's 10 1/2 blocks.
"Last year, they won at the end," said Gustin, 1-2 in her career against the Bruins. "When I hear the name 'UCLA' ... it motivates me.
"They lost some players from last year, but they're still good. We have to control, focus, be disciplined and do what we know how to do."
The Wahine did nearly everything well in the 84 minutes it took to finish off Colorado (0-3). Shoji was pleased with the defense (56 digs) and the serving -- Kim Willoughby had four aces in addition to her 12 kills and 13 digs, and Gustin added two aces.
"There's a fine line between serving aggressively and too aggressively," said Shoji. "I think we're creating some things off the serve, but, when you serve out, you're missing out on scoring opportunities and giving the other team the points. Our girls know my philosophy about being consistent. It can be aggressive, but it can't be reckless."
Shoji was very free with his substitutions last night against the Buffs, using 12 players, including setters Margaret Vakasausau and Jennifer Carey. He liked what he saw from freshman hitter Susie Boogaard -- "She's not playing like a freshman," he said -- and from junior liberodefensive specialist Melissa Villaroman.
Villaroman had several spectacular digs in Game 3, which was the closest between Hawaii and Colorado. The Buffs, who never led in the match, closed to within one seven times, the last at 13-12. Gustin had two kills, an ace and an impressive solo block of Allie Griffin, and she teamed with Carey on another block during an 8-3 run to pull away.
Monique Gerlach led Colorado with 21 kills, while Elizabeth Gower had 13 digs.
The Buffs were to leave this morning and won't be around to see the Hawaii-UCLA match. CU coach Pi'i Aiu predicts it's going to be a good one.
"Hawaii presents certain matchup problems, even for UCLA, which should match up better, size-wise," said Aiu. "But I think Hawaii has great experience and is doing great things right now. I'd have to go with Hawaii to win."
UCLA coach Andy Banachowski is looking forward to the match.
"It's a very friendly rivalry," said Banachowski. "Because we meet in the beginning of the year, we're not so wound up like it would be later in the season. We have fun playing each other.
"Hawaii is always a top-notch team with great defense, and they've got one of the best attacks going for them that they've had in years. It's going to be a challenge for us. Hawaii is on a mission this year and they have some motivation going to beat us. It's great preparation for both of us for the rest of the season."
UCLA 3, Ohio State 0: The Bruins pulled away in each game en route to a surprising sweep of the Buckeyes in 83 minutes. Lauren Fendrick had 13 kills and 12 digs while hitting .500 to lead UCLA.
OSU's Stacey Gordon had another outstanding match, hitting .357 with 22 kills, but it wasn't enough to lift her team.
The Bruins outblocked the Buckeyes 7-4, but had two fewer aces (1-3) Banachowski hopes that will change today.
"We have to serve aggressively," he said. "We know we'll make some errors, but we're committed to doing that. We want to be able to put pressure on Hawaii and that will be much harder to do in front of their crowd.
"I'm happy with what we're doing. I was worried about it being the other way (0-2) because Dave (Shoji) keeps putting together a tougher and tougher field every year. The competition gets better and better."
For the past 28 years, Hawaii-UCLA has always been good.
BACK TO TOP
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30-18, 30-21, 30-22 Hawaii def. Colorado
BUFFS (0-3, 0-3)
g k e att pct. bs ba d Hays 3 6 1 13 .385 0 1 1 Barkman 3 3 1 9 .222 0 0 9 Taskey 3 8 4 26 .154 0 1 6 Carr 3 5 9 23 -.174 0 0 9 Gower 3 6 2 15 .267 0 0 13 Gerlach 3 12 3 33 .273 1 0 6 Barnes 3 0 0 0 .000 0 0 6 Masumiya 2 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 Griffin 2 1 3 9 -.222 0 2 1 TEAM 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 Totals 3 41 23 128 .141 1 4 51 WAHINE (2-0, 2-0)
g k e att pct. bs ba d Vakasausau 3 1 1 3 .000 0 0 3 Willoughby 3 12 4 28 .286 0 3 13 Tano 1 2 0 3 .667 0 0 0 Lundqvist 1 1 2 7 -.143 0 1 2 Kahumoku 3 13 2 32 .344 0 0 7 Duggins 2 6 2 12 .333 1 2 5 Boogaard 2 3 1 6 .333 0 3 1 Carey 2 2 0 8 .250 0 3 2 Ilustre 2 0 0 1 .000 0 0 9 Eckmier 1 0 0 2 .000 1 2 0 Gustin 2 10 0 17 .588 0 3 2 Villaroman 3 0 0 0 .000 0 0 12 Totals 3 50 12 119 .319 2 17 56 Key--g: games; k: kills; e: hitting errors; att: attempts; pct.: hitting percentage; bs: block solos; ba: block assists; d: digs.
Aces -- Hawaii (6): Willoughby 4, Gustin 2. CU (1): Hays. Assists -- Hawaii (44): Vakasausau 21, Carey 16, Boogard 3, Willoughby, Eckmier, Villaroman, Lundqvist. CU (41): Gower 32, Taskey 5, Carr 2, Hays, Gerlach.
T -- 1:24. Officials -- Wayne Lee, Dan Hironaka. A--5,443.
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