Connections galore
in Marriott Challenge
The volleyball teams playing in this week's
tournament all have links to the islands
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In life, they say there's six degrees of separation between one person knowing another.
In volleyball, it's more like two ... as evidenced by this week's Waikiki Beach Marriott Challenge at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Cal State Northridge's connection to the islands? Matador hitter Harmony Burdine's sister Bonnee played for Hawaii Pacific (1991-94). Another sister, Keao, was an All-American on the USC team that handed Hawaii its only home loss of 2003 in the NACWAA Tournament at the Sheriff Center.
CSUN coach Jeff Stork played against Cincinnati coach Reed Sunahara (Hilo High, 1980) when the two All-Americans were in college -- Stork at Pepperdine and Sunahara at UCLA. The two met on opposite sides of the net for the 1983 and 1984 NCAA championships, with Sunahara's Bruins winning both times.
And UCLA? The Bruins have come to Honolulu so many times they should have residency.
The series between UCLA and Hawaii is the longest in the Rainbow Wahine program, with Hawaii holding a 33-28 edge, dating back to 1974, its first year of collegiate play.
They have met every year since, including three times for the national title. The Bruins defeated the Wahine for the AIAW championship in both 1974 and '75, Hawaii won the NCAA championship in 1983.
Not to date either of the coaches, but Hawaii's Dave Shoji and UCLA's Andy Banachowski were opposing setters in college in the late 1960s. Shoji was at UC Santa Barbara, Banachowski at UCLA.
The players also are not without their connections.
Wahine junior reserve setter Cayley Thurlby will see several more of her Sports Performance clubmates this week in UCLA setter Nellie Spicer and Cincinnati setter Chelsea Wisz. Thurlby saw another the previous two weeks in Penn State setter Sam Tortorello.
Hawaii sophomore hitter Tara Hittle's Doherty High classmate, Jenny Custer, is a hitter for Cincinnati. The two helped their team to the Colorado state championship in 2003.
It all adds up to another "solid tournament," Shoji said. "All three teams have different qualities and all present different challenges. All three coaches are good, and their teams will be, too."
At look at the teams:
No. 7 Hawaii (2-3): It's another week to get healthier and get players back for the Wahine, who finished second in their Hawaiian Airlines Classic with a 2-1 record.
Sophomore hitter Tara Hittle (ankle) played back row and libero in the HAL Classic and could see front-row action this week. (Hittle played one front-row rotation against Western Michigan Sunday).
Junior hitter Sarah Mason (ankle) was back practicing Monday and might be used sparingly. Junior hitter Alicia Arnott appears recovered from her flu virus, which kept her out of the 3-2 loss to Penn State completely; she played briefly in Sunday's win over the Broncos.
Hawaii is 0-3 against ranked teams so far this season. The Wahine slipped three spots to No. 7 in this week's poll "and that's OK," said Shoji. "The only poll that matters is the last one."
Freshman hitter Jamie Houston leads the team in kills (3.61, .230), followed by senior middle Victoria Prince (3.56, .429).
Coach Dave Shoji is in his 31st season (872-153).
No. 10 UCLA (3-0): The Bruins opened the season by winning the Sands Regency SBC Invitational in Reno. UCLA picked up victories over then-No. 18 San Diego in four, Eastern Kentucky in three and a 30-26, 22-30, 30-26, 29-31, 16-14 win over host Nevada.
Senior hitter Colby Lyman was named the MVP and junior middle Nana Meriwether was also named to the all-tournament team. Against the Wolf Pack, Meriwether had 14 kills and 11 blocks and Lyman added 11 kills and 12 digs.
UCLA has one senior, middle Nancy Barba, on the roster. Coach Andy Banachowski is in his 39th campaign (987-255) and could become the first women's coach to reach the 1,000-win mark this season.
Cal State Northridge (2-4): The Matadors went 1-2 at last week's Pepperdine Invitational, falling to then-No. 22 Colorado State in three and Northern Iowa in four. CSUN defeated the host Waves in five, rallying for a 21-30, 31-33, 30-17, 30-26, 15-12 win behind freshman hitter Harmony Burdine's 19 kills.
Freshman Jenn Probert, who leads CSUN in kills (3.08, .202), was named to the all-tourney team. The young Matadors (no seniors, 10 freshmen) have an outstanding libero in junior Jamie Crawford.
This is the Matadors' third consecutive week on the road. They opened the year at the Arizona State Invitational, with a win over UNLV and losses to St. Mary's and ASU.
Coach Jeff Stork is in his fourth season (46-44).
Cincinnati (1-2): The Bearcats opened their season in the Big East at the Las Cruces (N.M.) Hilton Invitational, defeating Texas-Pan American 3-0, but falling to Tulsa and host New Mexico State, both in four.
Against new Western Athletic Conference member New Mexico State, redshirt freshman middle Jessie Nevitt set a school record with 11 block assists in addition to 13 kills.
Sophomore hitter Jenny Cluster had a career-high 16 kills against the Aggies (3-0). She and senior middle Maria Pongonis were named to the all-tournament team.
Coach Reed Sunahara is in his sixth season (120-46). The Bearcats qualified for the NCAA tournament in Sunahara's first five seasons, missing out on last year's tournament despite a 22-11 record and a second-place finish in Conference USA.
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