Wahine sweep WSU in NCAA first round

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawai'i swept Washington State in three games tonight to win its NCAA tournament first-round match at Bohler Gym in Pullman, Wash.

The Wahine won 34-32, 30-26, 30-23.

Hawai'i plays Eastern Washington tomorrow at 2 p.m. Hawai'i time. The game will be broadcst on KCCN AM-1420.

Hawai'i, the No. 9 seed in the NCAA tournament, improved to 28-5. WSU finished its season with a 17-12 record.

In Game 1, the Cougars had game point at 29-27, but Hawai'i scored the next three points to take a 30-29 lead. From there WSU tied the game three times but could not take the lead, and UH closed out the game with two straight points.

In Game 2, the Wahine raced out to leads of 11-3, 15-5 and 20-9. But then UH outside hitter Kim Willoughby left the match after reaggravating a knee injury, and WSU went on a 10-1 run to cut the Hawai'i lead to 21-19. Willoughby re-entered the match.

The match stayed close at 27-26, Hawai'i. The Wahine won the next three points on two kills by Willoughby and a spike hit long by WSU's LaToya Harris.

In Game 3, Hawai'i scored eight unanswered points to take a 19-10 lead.

About 30 Hawai'i fans cheered on the Wahine from behind the UH bench.

The Hawai'i-WSU match started late after the first match lasted five games. Eastern Washington defeated Oregon State.