Wahine spike Wolf Pack in four sets

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Nevada became the latest Western Athletic Conference volleyball opponent to throw a scare into the University of Hawai'i, then catch a loss.

Wahine Kim Willoughby had 25 kills, but also went to her knees for a dig as Hawai'i defeated Nevada in four games. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The scariest part for the Wahine, now 8-0 in the WAC, came at the beginning and end. Nevada out-played them in all the basic skills in Game 1, showing no hint of intimidation or respect. And the Wolf Pack left knowing it has another shot at the WAC bully Friday in Reno, where it is unbeaten.

"If we play like we did in the first game we'll lose on the road," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "A lot of it was their serving, and our passing, and our lack of enthusiasm."

The Pack didn't need long to show how it upset then-No. 7 Pacific last month. Nevada broke from a 14-all first-game tie with Shannon Stemler serving five straight. The Wahine's passing deteriorated and their block was no match for Nevada's quick offense, particularly middles Michelle More (6 kills) and Kellie LaBossiere (5).

"They were good in the middle in the first game and we didn't expect that so much," Hawai'i's Maja Gustin said. "In the last three games we had to make a bigger block on those two. We did that and that's why we won. Those were their two best players."

A last-gasp surge made the first-game score respectable and gave Hawai'i a shove into Game 2, as did an ankle injury to Navonna Chambers, one of Nevada's four senior starters. With Chambers out, UH's block cheated on More.

The Wolf Pack, small and relentlessly scrappy, eventually couldn't put the ball away. Its hitting percentage descended radically as the match wore on. Ten of Hawai'i's 14 stuffs came in the final two games, with sophomore Nohea Tano in on six. She finished with nine blocks — nearly double her career high (5).

After their semi-comatose start — Shoji suggested attending Friday's football game might have taken too much out of his players — the Wahine worked their way into the match with their best hitters serving. Gustin (17 kills) scored four to put UH ahead, 11-7, and Kim Willoughby (25) served six straight to make it 20-11.

The Pack closed to 27-26. UH called time and came back with a Jennifer Carey stuff, Gustin kill and Willoughby's back-row blast that hit the ground as she did, on her knees, pumping her fist.

Carey, splitting time at hitter and setter, had nine kills, hit .643 and was in on four blocks playing part-time.

"She gives us very much," Gustin said. "She gives us good blocking and her hitting is amazing. I know she didn't hit in high school. She must be a natural hitter. Also defense and setting. When the ball goes to her, we know the set will be good."

Nevada coach Devin Scruggs said the opening moments of Game 3 were the closing moments of her team's upset bid. She counted 19 Nevada errors among Hawai'i's 30 points, at a time when she felt her team should have had the edge.

"We certainly made the most errors in Games 3 and 4," she said. "We lost the match in Game 3. I felt like going into Game 3 we had all the momentum, and we had seven or eight errors to start the game."

The Wahine play Boise State tonight at 5. Hawai'i Pacific, ranked 10th in Division II, plays UH Tuesday at 7 p.m.

QUICK SETS: San Jose State held off Fresno State, 29-31, 30-28, 30-21, 15-30, 15-12, last night at Fresno to move into second place in the West. ... UH unveiled a new sound meter last night, which hangs along the bottom of the center scoreboard. It goes by the name of "Yes Meter" — for its First Hawaiian sponsor — and the bank gives the athletic department $100 every time crowd noise sends the meter over the edge. ... Tanja Nikolic's parents, from Croatia, watched last night's match.