Posted on: Tuesday, November 6, 2001
Hawai'i Pacific wins in three
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
It was a lot harder than it looked on paper: a three-game sweep in an hour and a half.
But defending national champion Hawai'i Pacific couldn't dominate the match against a scrappy Western New Mexico team, despite putting them away, 30-28, 30-27, 30-28, at St. Andrew's Priory gym last night.
The 13th-ranked Sea Warriors (18-4 overall, 12-3 in the Pacific West Conference) struggled on serve return, recording 11 receiving errors, and never took a commanding lead over the Mustangs (16-16, 6-8).
But fueled by the emotion only a senior night could generate, HPU, which clinched the PacWest championship on Saturday, never gave up and rallied back each time to close out the games.
"Never a doubt," said HPU coach Tita Ahuna, confidently. "I knew the girls would pull through, if not by performing the skills then by heart. I knew this was their last game. I knew they wouldn't let up."
On their last night in front of a standing-room-only home crowd of 315, the seniors delivered, posting match-highs in kills, assists, digs and blocks.
Senior strongarms Andrea Wean and Roberta Robert put away 16 and 15 kills, respectively. Wean, who hit .419, also recorded a match-high six blocks, including a block solo. The 6-foot Robert got down on defense, picking up a game-high 13 digs. She recorded her 14th double-double of the season.
Two-time All-America setter Nia Tuitele dished out 39 assists, pushing her year's total to 1,028. She's the only HPU player to post 1,000 assists in a season. The senior from Kalihi also contributed five blocks (two solos), nine digs and two aces.
"We just wanted to go out and play a great game and carry that momentum to the postseason," said Tuitele, part of HPU's two national title teams. "We weren't going to lose this game."
The Sea Warriors jumped ahead in Games 1 and 2, before faltering on service returns and errors. They had their largest lead of the match in Game 2 at 14-9, but watched the gap narrow due to fundamental mistakes.
The Mustangs took command of Game 3 early on, pushing ahead 8-1 behind the consistent serves of setter Nohealani Burgess and outside hitter Kimberly Tano, both from Hawai'i.
"For our team, passing and serving is our nemesis," Ahuna said. "That can really hurt us."
But HPU maintained mental toughness, rallying back with quick defense and body-sacrificing plays that sent Tuitele into the stands on several plays to keep the ball in play.
"Our strength is our mind," Robert said. "We knew what we wanted and even in the third game ... we maintained patience to win it. That's what we needed in the beginning of the season."
And that's what they'll need in the postseason, as HPU will have to push past a tough regional to get to the NCAA II National Championship tournament in mid-November.
"They've got an uphill battle," said Mustangs coach Jim Callender. "They're not a deep team. But they need people to sideout and get some kills, and they've got that. And they've got the best setter in the country."
Though not as dominant as national title teams in the past, this squad has one thing that may prove stronger than skills or talent.
"Bond is their strength," Ahuna said. "That bond will get them through."
In another Pacific West Conference match, Chaminade swept Montana State-Billings, 30-26, 31-29, 30-23, last night at McCabe gym.
Julianne Hastert and Valasi Sepulona each had 15 kills and Julyn Kaupu added 13 to lead the way for the Silverswords.
