Houston sets tone

The junior records 27 kills as the Wahine advance to WAC title game

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. » Hawaii 5-0 ... at least when it comes to playing Nevada in the Western Athletic Conference volleyball tournament.

Hawaii    Nevada 3 0 NEXT UP vs. New Mexico State, today

Behind Jamie Houston's 27 kills and 13 by Aneli Cubi-Otineru, the 11th-ranked Wahine defeated the Wolf Pack for the 29th consecutive time, and the fifth time in the last six WAC tournaments, with a 30-27, 30-28, 30-21 sweep at the Pan American Center.

The win lifted Hawaii (23-5) into the title match for the 10th time in 10 years of WAC tournament's existence. For the second straight year, the Wahine will face New Mexico State; the 13th-ranked Aggies turned back San Jose State in last night's second semifinal, 31-29, 31-29, 30-23.

"It's going to be an absolute battle," Nevada coach Devin Scruggs said of today's title match (4 p.m. Hawaii time). "I would love to stay for it but we're going home."

Hawaii sent Nevada home early from the tournament twice before, with sweeps in the 2003 and 2005 semifinals. In the 2002 and 2004 title matches, the Wahine won in four.

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. » The music matched the tone set by Jamie Houston last night. During the first time-out of the Hawaii-Nevada semifinal, the song that echoed throughout the Pan American Center was MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This."

WAC Tournament At Las Cruces, N.M. All times Hawaii time Yesterday Semifinals » Hawaii def. Nevada 30-27, 30-28, 30-21 » New Mexico State def. San Jose State 31-29, 31-29, 30-23. Today Championship » Hawaii (23-5) vs. New Mexico State (26-4), 4 p.m.

And it was definitely "Hammer Time" for the Rainbow Wahine junior, the defending Western Athletic Conference tournament MVP, who pounded down 27 kills in her best match in three outings. The Wolf Pack slowed but never stopped Houston, and they couldn't stop top-seeded Hawaii from advancing to its 10th WAC volleyball championship match with a 30-27, 30-28, 30-21 victory.

For the second consecutive year, the Wahine will see New Mexico State (26-4). The 13th-ranked Aggies held off upset-minded San Jose State in last night's second semifinal, 31-29, 31-29, 30-23.

NMSU junior middle Amber Simpson had an equally impressive night, putting down 15 kills with no errors in 24 attempts. Kim Oguh added 11 kills for the Aggies, who have won their last seven since being swept at Hawaii on Oct. 26.

"We've been looking forward to this one the entire season," Oguh said. "Hawaii has a great tradition and we're still new to the conference. For us to be in the same breath as them is great.

"It's too premature to call it a bitter (rivalry). Hawaii's a tough team and great competition."

But the Wahine have a 21-1 edge over the Aggies and have won the last four meetings, including last year's championship match. One key to changing the outcome will be winning the serve and serve-receive battle, according to NMSU coach Mike Jordan.

The other key?

"Jamie Houston is a gifted athlete and we have to make life difficult for her tomorrow," Jordan said. "We have to block and we have to dig her."

That's something that Nevada was finally able to do in the latter stages of last night's match with Hawaii. Houston put down her first six swings and didn't have a hitting error until early in Game 2.

"We had a game plan for her," Nevada coach Devin Scruggs said of Houston. "When we tripled (three blockers) her, she struggled. When we forgot to triple, she made us pay.

"We slowed her down, dug her 20 times. She could have more."

"That's a scary thought," Nevada setter Ashley Miller added.

Houston and sophomore hitter Aneli Cubi-Otineru took advantage of Nevada's smaller block on the left side. Cubi-Otineru finished with her 11th double-double of the season (13 kills, 13 digs) and was in on three of the Wahine's 10 blocks.

Houston, who has struggled with her game the past two matches, said it's a lack of focus that hampers her.

"Today, I was more focused," she said.

"Jamie's developed into a player who has a lot of weapons," Wahine coach Dave Shoji said. "She has taken a half-step backward of late but tonight she showed what kind of player she can be.

"I thought Nevada forced us to play hard. They hung around and hung around in Games 1 and 2, and we had to bear down at the end of each game. I really respect their three seniors (Miller, Karly Sipherd, Teal Ericson) for holding their team together."

Sipherd led the Wolf Pack (16-11) with 13 kills and Ericson added 10.