Been there, dug that

The back-row players are a steadying influence for UH

For those of the certain vintage, LP means "Long Play."

When it comes to Hawaii volleyball, it means "Little People."

That's the term that Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji uses for his defensive specialists/ liberos. Anyone under 5-foot-9 ... anyone shorter than Shoji.

But Hawaii volleyball is built on what the "little people" can do. Defense has long been the base of Wahine success, and it is no different this season.

It helped lift No. 11 Hawaii into its NCAA region semifinal matchup with No. 6 USC tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center. The winner advances to tomorrow's 6:30 p.m. final against the winner of today's first semifinal between No. 4 UCLA and No. 12 Oklahoma.

Hawaii junior Raeceen Woolford and sophomore Elise Duggins -- both listed at 5-7 -- know that extending the season at least for another match is in their passing hands. The two have become solid back-row players in the Wahine's hunt for a fifth national championship.

Both were instrumental in Hawaii's second-round victory at Long Beach State, the win that not only propelled the Wahine into tonight's semifinal match against the Women of Troy but also exorcised some historical ghosts. It was the first time the Wahine defeated the 49ers in four matches at The Pyramid, as well as the first time Hawaii defeated The Beach in postseason play on the road in five matches dating back to 1989.

Duggins, who transferred from Long Beach State, had seven digs and one of UH's 11 aces against her former teammates last Saturday. Woolford capped the Wahine's first victory over the 49ers in The Pyramid by serving for three of the final four points of the match, a run that included her first career kill and the team's final ace, an experience she later said had her almost in tears when realizing that she contributed to a huge victory.

"Elise and Raeceen played well in that match," said Wahine associate coach Kari Anderson Ambrozich, who saw her season ended by the 49ers three times between 1991 and '94. "Those particular plays they were involved in allowed us to transition and get the ball to the go-to players.

"Dave and I were the only ones in the program who really knew the history of the rivalry, what beating them meant to our program."

Ignorance was a good thing for Woolford (21) and Duggins (20), both of whom were born just prior to Hawaii's last NCAA championship in 1987. But both had a stake in extending the Wahine legacy: Woolford, who played at Iolani under the late Ann Kang (a Wahine in 1976 and '77) and Duggins, whose sister Lauren (2000-03) was a third-team All-American.

"We were very motivated to play at home," Woolford said. "It was a really awesome postseason battle and probably one of the most memorable moments of my career.

"Winning states (the 2002 HHSAA championship) was good for high school, Saturday was good for college. It helped me remember how much I love the game and how much I love my teammates."

It's been a long journey into the lineup for the two. Woolford was penciled in as the starting libero, only to be erased early by the play of redshirt freshman Jayme Lee. Duggins had to prove herself, despite some solid credentials that included being the libero for the U.S. Junior National team.

Somewhere in the middle of the injury-plagued season Shoji decided to plug in both in the back row, Duggins at right-back and Woolford at middle-back. Both can take swings from behind the 3-meter line, as Woolford showed last Saturday when putting down her first career kill.

"Raeceen really gives us some options if our ball-control is shaky," Shoji said. "She probably has the most range of all our players on the back line.

"And Elise has really steadied out our passing. Not that we'll depend on them as part of our offense, but both can take some swings and, in an emergency, we'll go to them."

Senior setter Kanoe Kamana'o said she has no problem setting, either. Woolford was an outside hitter during their days at Iolani and Duggins was a proven hitter at Fullerton (Calif.) Union High.

"I'll go to the DSs if I need to," Kamana'o said of her defensive specialists. "They remind me that they are back there, ready to hit.

"They both dig balls that you are like 'Wow, good job.' They like to have a lot of fun and are good to have back there."

As with the other part-time players, the two are supportive of each other and the remaining defensive specialists: Kelly Ong, Rayna Kitaguchi and Makana Recca.

"Elise is a tremendous athlete and has really adapted to Hawaii volleyball after coming from a different program," Woolford said of Duggins.

"Raeceen is one of the most athletic people I've ever met," Duggins said. "She's so aggressive. She'll run you over getting to a ball. She is such a hard worker and inspiring as a teammate."

And both are good at defense, a skill that is often overlooked. Woolford has 158 digs, Duggins 141, accounting for about 20 percent of the team's digs while playing less than half the match.

Their mission will be to help defend against USC's potent attack in tonight's regional semifinal. It's one area where skill and steadiness -- not size -- matter.

"We're ready to win this weekend," Duggins said.