RUSTON, La. » Need a definition for domination?

Look it up under “;Jamie Houston.”; The Hawaii senior hitter had more kills than the entire Louisiana Tech team did in yesterday's Western Athletic Conference volleyball match at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Houston put down 21 kills and No. 7 Hawaii picked up its ninth consecutive victory, sweeping LaTech in 84 minutes. Freshman hitter Stephanie Ferrell added eight kills, with just one hitting error, and the Rainbow Wahine improved to 10-2 overall, 3-0 WAC.

Setting the tone for the match was junior middle Amber Kaufman, who served for nine straight points as Hawaii jumped out to a 10-0 lead in Set 1. Kaufman finished the match with seven kills and two aces and was in on four of the Wahine's 9.5 blocks.

“;It's always nice to get off to a quick start on the road,”; Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. “;We probably used Jamie more than we should have. It wasn't the game plan, but sometimes things happen.

“;We did get off to a good start—Amber has a tough serve—then we put it on cruise control.”;

The one road bump was the lack of coverage on LaTech setter Bianca Bin's dumping. Bin had five of her team's 20 kills “;and once again, we failed to cover that,”; Shoji said. “;We need to pay attention.”;

The Wahine outdug the Lady Techsters 47-35, with Tara Hittle tallying a match-high 13 and Houston picking up her second double-double of the season with 11. Hittle, who switched from libero to outside hitter in Set 3, moved into sixth place on the UH career dig list with 1,122, 16 digs behind Suzanne Eagye.

The only Wahine on the 12-player travel roster not to play was freshman hitter Kanani Herring. The reigning WAC player of the week sprained her left ankle Monday and remains in a protective walking boot.

Herring did practice yesterday, but Shoji said he didn't want to aggravate the injury. He said he would re-evaluate Herring's situation after tomorrow's practice in Las Cruces, N.M., as the Wahine prepare for New Mexico State.

“;It could even be a game-time decision to use her Saturday,”; Shoji said.