UH ready for Lions, Rebels
Rainbow Wahine are well-rested
after last weekend's emotional
win over Stanford
For the first weekend this season, the Hawaii volleyball team won't be hosting a tournament. But it doesn't mean the Rainbow Wahine aren't playing host to challenges and challenging teams.
Women's College Volleyball
Tonight: No. 25 Loyola Marymount (10-1) vs. UNLV (6-3), 7 p.m.
Tomorrow: No. 2 Hawaii (9-1) vs. Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Hawaii vs. UNLV, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Tickets--Tomorrow: $3-$14; Tonight and Saturday: $3-$12
Radio: UH matches live, KKEA 1420-AM
TV: UH matches live, KFVE-Ch. 5
Internet: kkea1420am.com and k5thehometeam.com
In town this week are No. 25 Loyola Marymount and former conference foe UNLV. The Lions (10-1) and the Rebels (6-3) open this week's play at the Stan Sheriff Center with tonight's single match at 7.
What does No. 2 Hawaii (9-1) get out of facing LMU tomorrow and UNLV on Saturday? It's a chance for the Wahine to fine-tune their game before hitting the road for the first time this year.
"No team is an easy team," Wahine senior Nohea Tano said. "What we need to do is make our side better every time we play."
Following its huge win over No. 4 Stanford last Saturday, Hawaii took two consecutive days off for the first time since preseason workouts began. The break allowed the Wahine to rest some minor injuries, including freshman setter Kanoe Kamana'o's tweaked left shoulder.
It also allowed Hawaii to renew the energy that helped defeat the Cardinal for the first time since 1991.
"That performance was probably the best energy our team has ever had," said Tano, who had a season-high 13 kills in the victory over Stanford. "The small plays, the big plays, when you see other people getting excited who don't normally get excited, that's inspiring.
"And I was very happy that Kanoe had the confidence in me to keep setting me. It's given me more confidence."
Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said he was looking forward to the LMU and UNLV matches. Those will likely be more competitive than when the Wahine head out next week to take on San Jose State (2-6).
"We want to play at a high level every week," Shoji said. "We can't afford to take a week off or slip. Our goal is to be really good at the end of the year.
"We've got to work hard in practice and raise our level each week. This week is another opportunity to play a ranked team, try some different things and get better. We're looking forward to the challenges."
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A look at the teams
Hawaii (9-1)
The Wahine have won their last eight, including the five-set win over the Cardinal. Last Saturday's victory snapped a seven-match skid against Stanford that dated back to Thanksgiving week of 1991.Loyola Marymount will be Hawaii's eighth Top 25 opponent in of its first 11 matches. The Wahine's lone loss was to No. 1 USC in the second match of the season.
Senior hitter Kim Willoughby picked up her third consecutive tournament MVP plaque after the Wahine won the Hawaii Sprint Invitational. Also over the weekend, senior hitter Lily Kahumoku moved into fifth place on the all-time UH kill list with 1,481. She needs 73 to pass Suzanne Eagye for No. 4.
Dave Shoji is in his 29th year (813-148-1).
Hawaii leads the series with LMU 4-2. The Wahine have won the last two meetings, on consecutive nights in 1999. The teams were to have met in 2001, but the match was canceled after the 9/11 tragedy.
Hawaii leads the series with UNLV 7-0. The last time the teams met, the Wahine shut out the Rebels in Game 1 in 2000. That was the last time UH blanked an opponent.
Loyola Marymount (10-1)
The Lions saw their 10-match winning streak stopped last Saturday by Washington State at the Cougar Mania Tournament. LMU earned the tournament title on a tie-breaker.Senior middle Kea Kimball, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, was named the tournament MVP. She posted her fourth double-double of the season with 22 kills and 25 digs in the loss to the Cougars. She leads the Lions in kills (4.05 kpg) and digs (3.38).
Kimball and Hawaii senior hitter Nohea Tano were teammates on Kamehameha's three-time state championship team (1997-99).
Also on the LMU roster from Hawaii is sophomore hitter Michelle Look, a Punahou School graduate.
LMU and UNLV have already seen each other this year, opening the season at the Furama Hotel Invitational hosted by LMU. The Lions won 30-18, 30-21, 30-27.
Steve Stratos is in his 14th year (257-112).
UNLV (6-3)
The Rebels saw their five-match win streak end Saturday at the Gonzaga Invitational. UNLV fell to Idaho State in five but rebounded to defeat Boise State in four.Senior hitter Leiana Oswald, UNLV's all-time kill leader, earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Joining her was senior hitter Patricia Assuncao.
On the Rebels' roster from Hawaii is freshman libero Kristin Koochi out of Iolani, a high school teammate of Wahine freshman setter Kanoe Kamana'o and redshirt freshman defensive specialist Raeceen Woolford.
Former Hawaii All-American Deitre Collins is in her eighth year and, with 82 victories, has more wins than any of the three previous UNLV volleyball coaches.
Collins has surrounded herself with assistants with Hawaii ties. Her top assistant is Matt Johnson, a former Warrior player and assistant.
Erika Nash, the daughter of UH associate head coach Bob Nash, is also on the staff.
"We're all excited to be in the warm weather," Erika Nash said. "Yes, Las Vegas has warm weather but not the trades or the beaches. We have sand, but no water.
"The players are excited. We try to tell them what it's like to play there. But until they experience it ... They've asked if the fans are mean. We tell them the fans are great and, if you play hard, they'll applaud you."
