On a map, Hawaii and Louisiana Tech are more than 4,000 miles apart. In volleyball the distance between the two schools seems far greater. UH, LaTech are opposites
By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comThe second-ranked Rainbow Wahine (11-0, 1-1 Western Athletic Conference) own a 53-match conference winning streak. After joining the WAC a year ago, the Lady Techsters (12-7, 0-1) are still searching for their first conference victory.
Hawaii's tradition alone might be good for a few points in today's 7 p.m. match. The Rainbow Wahine were busy winning their fourth national title the same year (1987) that the Lady Techsters started a volleyball program. And the crowd at the Stan Sheriff Center will probably be larger than Louisiana Tech's total season attendance of 2,882 last year.
The Lady Techsters' first WAC win probably won't come this weekend, but that's OK. Second-year coach Heather Mazeitis knows building a winning tradition requires baby steps. The Lady Techsters have taken plenty of them and improved considerably.
Mazeitis has already coached Tech to more wins than it had all of last season. Louisiana Tech won 10 of 11 matches before losing to Southern Methodist in its WAC opener.
Setter Lia Mora's return from injury in 2001 has made a huge impact. With Mora running a balanced attack, the Lady Techsters' hitting percentage is almost 100 points higher than last year.
Junior Cristine Sant'Anna leads the team with 3.62 kills per game. She earned WAC player of the week honors on Sept. 23 and collected her ninth double-double of the season in a 3-2 loss to Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday.
But the Wahine don't care who their opponents are or how much they've done.
"It's not about what they have or what they do," junior Kim Willoughby said. "It's about what we do and how we play on our side of the court. It's not about anyone else. It's about us."
Hawaii coach Dave Shoji agrees.
"We have to stay at a high level of play and not have ups and downs and try to keep a high level of intensity," Shoji said. "The teams that come in, if we give them a little bit of confidence early in the match, then they tend to play better.
"If you take away stuff right away and don't allow them any cheap points, then usually the match goes our way."
Besides injuries, most things have gone Hawaii's way this season. Shoji knows Tech has improved, but his team is still virtually unbeatable in the WAC.
Notes: Willoughby may not play today. The junior had lower back muscle spasms and practiced in limited capacity this week. The All-American wants to play, but doctors have said rest would be better for her body.
When: Today, 7 p.m. GAMEDAY
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: KFVE, Channel 5
Radio: Live, 1420-AMNotes: This is only the second meeting between Hawaii and Louisiana Tech. The Rainbow Wahine swept the Lady Techsters in Ruston, La., last year. Willoughby, who has been hampered by lower back muscle spasms and is 50-50 for tonight's match, has been moving up the Wahine kill charts and needs six kills to pass No.6 Deitre Collins on the career list. ... Tech hitter Cristine Sant'Anna is expected to be in next week's edition of Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd".
Probable starters
Louisiana tech (12-7, 0-1)
Ht. KPG Aces Digs S Lia Mora (So.) 5-10 1.22 22 2.66 MB Tanya Jarvis (Jr.) 6-0 2.39 3 1.13 MB Megan Rush (So.) 6-0 2.45 15 1.03 OH Brianna Sibley (Sr.) 5-10 2.72 18 1.75 OH Natalie Shipp (Jr.) 5-10 1.84 14 2.25 Opp Cristine Sant'Anna (Jr.) 6-1 3.62 9 2.70 L Heather Anderson (So.) 5-8 NA NA 2.40
Hawaii (11-0, 1-0 WAC)
Ht. KPG Aces DPG S Margaret Vakasausau (Sr.) 5-8 .21 0 2.00 MB Karin Lundqvist (Jr.) 6-3 1.82 4 1.21 MB Lauren Duggins (Jr.) 6-0 2.45 6 2.24 OH Lily Kahumoku (Jr.) 6-2 5.03 5 2.90 OH Kim Willoughby (Jr.) 6-0 6.37 30 3.54 Opp Nohea Tano (Jr.) 5-11 1.45 1 1.45 L Melissa Villaroman (Jr.) 5-6 NA NA 2.76
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