Wahine in a must-win mood
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
UCLA, Kansas State and Michigan have no idea what to expect tonight when the 14th annual Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic opens at Stan Sheriff Center. The University of Hawai'i knows only that it expects better.
Today through Sunday, Stan Sheriff Center. Today: 5 p.m., UCLA vs. Michigan; 7, Hawai'i vs. Kansas State
The Wahine's home opener, at 7 p.m. against Kansas State, comes a week after they were swept in their season opener by top-ranked Nebraska. A night later, fourth-ranked Wisconsin didn't give them a game.
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14th annual Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic volleyball tournament.
Tomorrow: 5 p.m., Kansas State vs. UCLA; 7 p.m, Hawai'i vs. Michigan.
Sunday: 5 p.m., Kansas State vs. Michigan; 7, Hawai'i vs. UCLA.
"It's back to the drawing board," junior Margaret Vakasausau says. "We lost a lot of technical aspects to the game last week. We got the jitters out.
"Our team meshes well together. We're all happy, joyous children, but . . . we need to perform tactically well and get angry and create a sense of urgency."
The fifth-ranked Wahine urgently need a win. It will be hard to come by this week against teams from three of the country's toughest conferences. The Wahine lost three starters from last year's final-four team, while their Classic opponents lost four starters combined.
Kansas State is ranked 19th and coming off its first Sweet-16 season. Suzie Fritz, in her first month as head coach, needs to replace a four-year starter at setter and a first-team all-conference hitter. Everyone else is back, including honorable mention All-American Liz Wegner, who needs 180 kills to become the Wildcats' career leader.
Michigan, Hawai'i's opponent tomorrow, finished 8-12 in the Big Ten last season and still got an NCAA bid due to the power of the conference (four teams are in the preseason's Top 20). The Wolverines feature five returning starters, including senior setter Shannon Melka, and a roster dominated by underclassmen. Coach Mark Rosen has a 20-4 non-conference record his first two years.
Seventh-ranked UCLA has All-American Kristee Porter — No. 4 in kills nationally as a junior — and a determination not to set her non-stop, again.
"We're going to try and attack with a little more variety," coach Andy Banachowski says. "Not always Porter on the left, in the backcourt, on the right, in the middle, on the left again . . ."
The Bruins were picked to finish fourth in the Pac-10, behind second-ranked Southern California, sixth-ranked Arizona and 10th-ranked Stanford. Porter is one of their three four-year starters .
Hawai'i has something to prove after opening the season 0-2 — as much to itself as its demanding fans. But winning is not its priority.
"We need to play hard," sophomore Kim Willoughby says. "Sometimes, you just need to go out there and play. That's what the game's about. That's the big thing right now."
Adds junior Jennifer Carey: "We get along, but we need to demand a little bit more of each other, in practice and in games. We definitely need a win, especially on our home floor, but also we need to play good volleyball."
NOTE: Andy Banachowski needs two victories to become the first women's volleyball coach to reach 900. UCLA men's coach Al Scates reached the 1,000-victory mark in March.
