Rainbow Wahine walk over Aggies
STORY SUMMARY »
Owned
Hawaii has had little trouble with Utah State over the years, beating the Aggies 34 times. Teams UH has beaten more than any other:
| Opponent |
W-L
|
| San Jose State |
57-4
|
| Fresno State |
41-0
|
| San Diego State |
36-3
|
| Utah State |
34-7
|
| UCLA |
34-31
|
| Pacific |
34-25 |
|
LOGAN, Utah » Hawaii moved up both in wins and in the national poll yesterday, notching its 13th straight volleyball victory while going up a notch to No. 11.
Led by sophomore hitter Aneli Cubi-Otineru's 16 kills and 14 by junior hitter Jamie Houston, the Rainbow Wahine defeated Utah State 30-27, 30-17, 30-22 at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
It was the 20th consecutive time Hawaii (16-3, 10-0 Western Athletic Conference) defeated the Aggies (9-10, 6-4).
It was also the second time this year that the Wahine went 3-0, playing three matches in five nights.
Next up? No. 1 Nebraska on Sunday.
"We've tried not to think about Nebraska until after this match," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "Now we can turn our thoughts to them and devote our practice efforts."
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LOGAN, Utah » Spectacular? No.
Solid? Yes.
Behind Aneli Cubi-Otineru's 16 kills and a defense that continually frustrated host Utah State, No. 11 Hawaii won its 13th match in a row last night, sweeping the Aggies 30-27, 30-17, 30-22. The Rainbow Wahine needed 92 minutes to improve to 16-3 overall, 10-0 in Western Athletic Conference play, and finish off their second road trip of the season with three wins in five nights.
"I didn't know what to expect, another three matches in five nights, but our players responded," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said after the match at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. "I think it was just like our last trip. We played well.
"Our passing wasn't real sharp, but we passed well enough. And our left-sides had good nights."
Cubi-Otineru, with many family members in attendance, led the way. Junior Jamie Houston added 14 kills, while senior middle Juliana Sanders and junior right-side hitter Tara Hittle chipped in seven each.
The Wahine defense, ranked No. 1 in the WAC, came up big, out-digging the Aggies 52-38. Sophomore setter Stephanie Brandt finished with a match-high 12 digs and freshman libero Elizabeth Ka'aihue 11.
The Wahine hit .302 against the WAC's best block, and hit .706 to start Game 2 when they put down 12 of their first 17 swings. Utah State (9-10, 6-4) did finish with a 12.5 to 9 block advantage, with Melissa Larson in on eight and Monarisa Ale (Kahuku '04) in on six.
The Wahine did not allow the Aggies -- who lead the WAC in aces -- to tee off from the service line. Both teams had four aces.
"We were able to run our offense," Shoji said. "I think everyone assumes we're going to win these matches, but our players have really focused on our road trips."
Hawaii can now focus on its next trip -- to No. 1 Nebraska. The Wahine were to fly home today and then leave for Lincoln on Friday night for Sunday's match with the Huskers.
"We've done a good job of not looking ahead," Shoji said. "Now we can turn our thoughts to Nebraska."
Senior Amanda Nielson led the Aggies with 16 kills, 10 of those coming in Game 3. Utah State enjoyed its biggest lead of the night -- 11-6 -- in the final game before Hawaii used an 8-1 run to take the lead for good at 14-12.
Game 1 was close until late. At 24-24, Hittle put down a kill, giving the Wahine a lead that would hold up. The Aggies pulled to within two three times, the last at 29-27, with Houston ending it with her sixth kill.
Hawaii took control early in Game 2, turning a 14-9 lead into a 24-12 runaway. Utah State scored three points to close to 27-17 but a kill by Otineru and two Aggie hitting errors closed it out.
WAC standings
|
Conference |
|
|
Overall
|
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L
|
| Hawaii |
10 |
0 |
1.000 |
16 |
3
|
| New Mexico State |
8 |
1 |
.889 |
18 |
3
|
| Nevada |
6 |
3 |
.667 |
9 |
7
|
| Utah State |
6 |
4 |
.600 |
9 |
10
|
| Idaho |
5 |
3 |
.625 |
9 |
10
|
| Fresno State |
3 |
7 |
.300 |
5 |
16
|
| San Jose State |
2 |
6 |
.250 |
8 |
11
|
| LaTech |
1 |
9 |
.100 |
6 |
17
|
| Boise State |
1 |
9 |
.100 |
4 |
14 |
Yesterday
Hawaii def. Utah State, 30-27, 30-17, 30-22
Idaho State def. Boise State, 30-27, 30-23, 24-30, 28-30, 18-16
Today
Fresno State at CSU Bakersfield
Thursday
Boise State at Utah Valley State
San Jose State at Louisiana Tech
Idaho at Utah State
Hawaii def. Utah St.
30-27, 30-17, 30-22
Hawaii (10-0)
|
g |
k |
e |
att |
pct. |
bs |
ba |
d
|
| Sanders |
3 |
7 |
2 |
16 |
.312 |
2 |
1 |
0
|
| Kaufman |
2 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
.000 |
0 |
3 |
0
|
| Hittle |
3 |
7 |
2 |
13 |
.385 |
0 |
1 |
6
|
| Houston |
3 |
14 |
7 |
36 |
.194 |
0 |
1 |
7
|
| Brandt |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1.000 |
0 |
1 |
12
|
| Cubi-Otineru |
3 |
16 |
4 |
33 |
.364 |
0 |
2 |
9
|
| Gregory |
2 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
.333 |
1 |
2 |
0
|
| Keefe |
1 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
.500 |
0 |
1 |
0
|
| Kaaihue |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
0 |
0 |
11
|
| Mafua |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
| Lee |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
0 |
0 |
7
|
| Totals |
3 |
52 |
17 |
116 |
.302 |
3 |
12 |
52 |
Aggies (6-4)
|
g |
k |
e |
att |
pct. |
bs |
ba |
d
|
| Ale |
3 |
4 |
4 |
18 |
.000 |
1 |
5 |
2
|
| Fowles |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
0 |
4 |
7
|
| Osterloh |
3 |
8 |
5 |
36 |
.083 |
0 |
2 |
7
|
| Taylor |
3 |
7 |
6 |
17 |
.059 |
0 |
2 |
0
|
| Larson |
3 |
4 |
2 |
9 |
.222 |
0 |
8 |
0
|
| Nielson |
3 |
16 |
9 |
48 |
.146 |
0 |
2 |
9
|
| Payne |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
0 |
0 |
2
|
| Morrill |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
0 |
0 |
11
|
| Hillier |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
0 |
0 |
1
|
| Totals |
3 |
39 |
26 |
130 |
.100 |
1 |
23 |
39 |
Key -- g: games; k: kills; e: hitting errors; att: attempts; pct.: hitting percentage; bs: block solos; ba: block assists; d: digs.
Aces -- Hawaii (4): Hittle, Brandt, Gregory, Keefe. Utah St. (4): Osterloh, Nielson, Payne, Hillier. Assists -- Hawaii (48): Brandt 43, Houston 2, Hittle, Kaaihue, Mafua. Utah St. (38): Fowles 36, Osterloh, Morrill.
T -- 1:32. Officials -- Carlos Rodriguez, Maile Merrell-Jewkes. A -- 661.
