What happens when your star player finishes her eligibility? Balanced Bulldogs
to test UHBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comIf you're Fresno State, your team becomes even better.
The Bulldogs (18-2, 6-1 Western Athletic Conference) are amid the best season in school history despite losing Shauna McQuaid, a first-team all-conference pick last year.
"Our team chemistry is very good," said Fresno State coach Lindy Vivas, a Punahou graduate. "We started to see that last spring. It's started to come together.
"We're more balanced and everybody knows they have to contribute for us to be successful. We don't really have a big star this year. We've always had people who are go-to players, so (this year) we've really had to rely on everybody. They know that and they've stepped up to the challenge. It's been fun."
The Bulldogs have had fun compiling a beautiful record, with their only losses coming against No. 5 UC Santa Barbara and Nevada.
Four players average more than three kills per game, which makes it hard for opposing teams' defenses to focus on one player. Middle blocker Carrie Hartt is the team's best attacker, with 3.52 kills per game.
The season has been good, but Vivas is fully aware of the task her team has in playing the No. 2 Rainbow Wahine (17-0, 5-0) at the Stan Sheriff Center tomorrow.
"Hawaii has a way of making good teams look not so good at their place," Vivas said. "That's the key for everybody getting to Hawaii. Get there, play well and hang in there and be tough.
"It's just tough because one of our emphasis is on serving very tough. The challenge with Hawaii is that a team can serve tough and they still have Lily (Kahumoku) and Kim (Willoughby) on the outside."
Kahumoku and Willoughby helped Hawaii defeat Notre Dame -- the best blocking team in the nation -- twice this week. The Wahine don't believe any team can play at their level continuously.
"If we let them, they'll be able to stay with us," setter Margaret Vakasausau said. "It's all up to us. If we play Hawaii volleyball and come out with our 'A' game, they can't play with us. Nobody can. But if we choose to let them in, then they'll be able to play with us."
The Wahine play San Jose State today and say that fatigue won't be a factor in either WAC match.
Note: La'akea Campbell, a 2001 Star-Bulletin first-team all-state selection, is a freshman outside hitter for the Bulldogs.
When: Today, 7 p.m. vs. San Jose State; tomorrow, 7 p.m. vs. Fresno State UH volleyball
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: KFVE, Ch. 5
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
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