Wahine awaiting Wolf Pack

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Saturday against Nevada, 11th-ranked University of Hawai'i finds itself with a volleyball oddity: A Western Athletic Conference match that matters.

The Wolf Pack (13-4) is second in the West with a 7-2 conference record. The Wahine (15-4) are first at 7-0, and have won their past 48 against WAC opponents.

They take a 12-match winning streak into Saturday's 7 p.m. match at Stan Sheriff Center. Last-place Boise State (1-17, 1-7 WAC) is here Sunday (5 p.m.).

Nevada is coming off a four-game non-conference loss at Sacramento State Tuesday. The Hornets lead the Big Sky and are 34th in the Ballicora power rankings. The Wolf Pack is 35th. Neither team has lost at home this season.

Nevada is 9-0 at its Virginia Street Gym, including a sweep of then-No. 7 Pacific last month. That came in the midst of nine-match winning streak. The roll ended abruptly with losses at Fresno State and San Jose State two weeks ago. The Pack beat Fresno State last week at home.

Nevada starts all upperclassmen and has three of the conference's most efficient hitters in Michelle More (.302), Kellie LaBossiere (.290) and Suzanne Stonebarger (.275). The team ranks 15th nationally in hitting percentage (.285).

That's five spots below Hawai'i, which is hitting .302. The Wahine are also among the national leaders in assists (fifth at 15.77) and kills (11th at 16.79).

Wahine Kim Willoughby is averaging 6.91 kills per game and leads the country by more than a full kill. She is hitting a WAC-best .351 that balloons to .435 in conference matches.

QUICK SETS: Fourth-ranked Stanford beat 17th-ranked Pacific Tuesday in five games. ... The Wahine play at Nevada next Friday (Nov. 2).