Tougher trip awaits Wahine

Advertiser Staff

This road trip won't be as easy as the last for the University of Hawai'i Wahine volleyball team.

Earlier this month, the Wahine completed a four-match cruise in which they swept all four opponents.

This road trip — which starts today at San Diego State, with stops tomorrow at San Jose State and Saturday at Fresno State — could be rocky, according to Wahine coach Dave Shoji.

"All three are capable of playing with us," Shoji said. "We know that all three teams have been hot and cold and if we get them on a hot night, it'll be a struggle."

Although today's match against the Aztecs is a nonconference meeting, Shoji doesn't intend to rest setter Margaret Vakasausau, who re-aggravated a hip contusion suffered two weeks ago.

"In volleyball, all the games count for NCAA purposes," Shoji said. "Margaret, I think she'll start. We'll see how she plays and make a decision."

The Wahine didn't miss a beat when Vakasausau was replaced by Jennifer Carey in Sunday's match against SMU.

Carey, a starter the past two seasons, helped set the Wahine to a .361 hitting percentage as the Wahine won their 46th consecutive Western Athletic Conference match.

That streak could be threatened at San Jose or Fresno.

San Jose State and Fresno State both are 6-1 in the conference, behind the Wahine's 5-0 record in the WAC's Western Division.

San Jose State has won 12 of its last 13 matches and is 15-3 overall. Fresno State has won 11 of 12 and is 11-4 overall.

The Bulldogs pulled off an upset last Friday, beating No. 26 Nevada, improving to 9-0 at home while ending the Wolf Pack's nine-match winning streak.

The Wahine (12-4), who have won nine in a row, now are ranked No. 12 in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll. None of the three Wahine road opponents is ranked.