DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Third-teamer Lauren Duggins is one of three All-Americans back with the Wahine this season.
Wahine welcome
deep NACWAA fieldThis weekend's field includes
the top three teams in the
nation, along with No. 15
For those who believe in such things, hosting the NACWAA/ State Farm Volleyball Classic is not the way to open one's season.
NACWAA/State Farm Classic
Schedule: Tomorrow -- No. 1 Southern Cal vs. No. 3 Florida, 5 p.m.; No. 2 Hawaii vs. No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m. Saturday -- Third place, 5 p.m. Championship, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center.
Tickets: Two-day packages -- $12-$30. Single tickets -- $6-$16.
Radio: All matches, live KKEA 1420-AM.
Television: Tomorrow's matches live, KFVE. Saturday's final delayed, ESPN2, 8:30 a.m., Sept. 2.
It may be considered the premier women's volleyball tournament in the country, with invitations highly coveted, but the four-team event has been the kiss of death for all eight of the previous host schools.
Nebraska hosts in 1995, Stanford wins it.
Illinois State hosts in 1996, Hawaii wins it.
Stanford hosts in 1997 ... well, one gets the picture.
There are, however, a few positives about this tournament.
One, the host school has gone on to win the NCAA championship three times: Nebraska in 1995, Stanford in 1997 and Long Beach State in 1998.
Two, the NACWAA winner has been the NCAA runner-up three times: Hawaii in 1996, Penn State in 1997 and Stanford last year.
Three, there's a heck of a lot of good volleyball played over two days as the women's collegiate season officially begins.
Every one of the past eight fields has had one to three former NCAA champions in it. Every NCAA champion has played in at least one NACWAA.
This week's ninth annual tournament at the Stan Sheriff Center is no exception.
The field includes three of last season's final four teams, including defending national champion Southern California. Three-time NCAA titlist and 1996 NACWAA winner Hawaii is hosting for the first time.
"There are probably six to eight elite programs in the country every year," said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji. "This year, we are one of them.
"Probably teams (ranked) 10-20 can possibly upset one of the elite teams. It's rare, but it happens."
And it could happen this weekend.
The Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 15 teams are here.
Kansas State gave Hawaii quite a battle the last time the two met in 2000; the Wildcats won the first two games before the Wahine rallied in five.
Florida, ranked third behind USC and Hawaii, remembers all too well having a one-game lead on the Women of Troy in December's NCAA semifinal. The Gators lost in four and are 0-6 when reaching the final four.
Rankings mean nothing coming into this week. And, as tournament history has shown, winning this event often doesn't mean much come December.
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The teams
A look at the teams, according to ranking, with last year's record:
No. 1 Southern California (31-1)
The defending national champion returns all seven starters (including senior libero Nicole Davis) off a team that finished 31-1. The Women of Troy won the Pac-10 title with a 17-1 record; their only loss was to Stanford, which USC defeated for the 2002 NCAA title.Coach Mike Haley (56-5) is beginning his third season at USC. He is the former head coach at Texas; his Longhorns defeated the Wahine for the 1988 NCAA championship.
USC is a veteran team with four seniors and three juniors projected to start. The Women of Troy have a balanced attack with returning All-Americans April Ross (Sr., 6-foot-1, OH), Emily Adams (Jr., 6-6, MB) and Katie Olsovsky (Sr., 6-3, MB).
They also feature Keao Burdine (Jr., 6-1, OH), who was named the MVP of the NCAA Championship. Toni Anderson (Sr., 5-10, S) averaged 8.42 assists last season.
Series history: USC leads against Florida 2-1 and against Kansas State 1-0, and trails against Hawaii 15-18.
Fun fact: The USC roster features four players with well-known fathers. Adams is the daughter of former NBA player Alvan Adams; Alicia Robinson is the daughter of former NBA player Truck Robinson; Anne Montgomery's father is Mike Montgomery, the basketball coach at Stanford; and Alex Dunphy's father is Marv Dunphy, the men's volleyball coach at Pepperdine.
No. 2 Hawaii (34-2)
The Wahine finished tied for third at the NCAA final four last season, falling to eventual national runner-up Stanford. Hawaii won its seventh consecutive WAC title, going 13-0.Coach Dave Shoji (804-147-1) is in his 29th season and has led Hawaii to four national titles (1979, 1982-83, and 1987). He became the fourth coach to reach 800 wins last season when UH downed Utah 3-0 last Nov. 27.
Hawaii returns five starters, including three All-Americans in first-teamers Kim Willoughby (Sr., 6-0, OH), Lily Kahumoku (Sr., 6-2, OH) and third-teamer Lauren Duggins (Sr., 6-0, MB). The Wahine have two freshman setters, with the starting job this week going to Iolani School graduate Kanoe Kamana'o.
Series history: Hawaii leads against USC 18-15 and Kansas State 2-0, and is tied with Florida 2-2.
Fun fact: The Wahine were the first team in NCAA history to lead the country in all three major offensive stat categories last season. UH led in hitting percentage (.329), kills per game (18.19) and assists per game (16.72).
No. 3 Florida (34-3)
The Gators finished tied for third at the NCAA final four last season, falling to USC. Florida won its 12th consecutive SEC title with a 16-0 mark.Coach Mary Wise (395-41) is in her 12th season and is on track to best Shoji as the coach reaching 500 wins before 100 losses.
Florida returns five starters, including All-Americans Aury Cruz (Sr., 5-11, OH) and Benavia Jenkins (Sr., 5-0, MB). The Gators also have all-region picks Jacque Robinson (Sr., 6-2, OH) and Michelle Chatman (Jr., 5-11, OH).
Series history: Florida is tied with Hawaii 2-2, trails USC 1-2 and leads Kansas State 1-0.
Fun fact: Florida will host one of the 2003 regionals on Dec. 12-13. Florida, Hawaii, Nebraska and Long Beach State are the four predetermined sites. This is the first year the NCAA has used this format.
No. 15 Kansas State (21-9)
The Wildcats finished second in the Big 12 behind Nebraska, losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Washington State.Coach Suzie Fritz (41-17) is in her third season as head coach, seventh with the program. She was last year's Big 12 Coach of the Year.
K-State returns six starters from last year's team, including four all-Big 12 selections. Laura Downey-Wallace (Sr., 5-9, L) was the inaugural conference Libero of the Year. Other all-conference picks were Lauren Goehring (Sr., 5-0, MB), Gabby Guerre (5-1, Jr., S) and Cari Jenson (Sr., 6-0, OH).
Series history: Kansas State trails USC and Florida 0-1, and Hawaii 0-2.
Fun fact: This is the 30th season of Wildcat women's volleyball, with an all-time record of 561-472-11.
