UCLA rolls by Wahine
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Still not ready for prime time, or Kristee Porter, the fifth-ranked University of Hawai'i Wahine fell to seventh-ranked UCLA last night in the championship of the 14th annual Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
The scores were 30-25, 30-25, 30-24, before a crowd of 6,351 at Stan Sheriff Center. Porter, an All-American and the tournament MVP, provided nearly all the offense the Bruins (3-0) required with 25 kills. Against an ineffective Hawai'i block, she hit .404 — more than 100 points better than her career average.
UCLA's Kristee Porter is blocked by Hawai'i's Melody Eckmier last night at the Stan Sheriff Center. Porter finished with a match-high 25 kills and hit .404 in the Bruins' 30-25, 30-25, 30-24 victory.
"We didn't play so bad," UH sophomore Maja Gustin said, "but we need to block much better. We can only congratulate her (Porter). We couldn't stop her, but we can stop her in the future."
The sweep was UCLA's first victory over Hawai'i since it won the Classic in 1997. In the interim, the Bruins' trio of four-year starters — Porter, setter Erika Selsor and Ashley Bowles — took just one game off the Wahine in three lopsided losses.
"This was high on their wish list for the year," UCLA coach Andy Banachowski said of his seniors.
The Wahine, whose most experienced starters last night were sophomores, simply couldn't match the Bruins' execution or sophistication, despite playing their most consistent match of a 2-3 season.
"They had three seniors who have started every match for four years," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "They just know where to go and how to react. We've had, what, 3 1/2 weeks to try and throw a team together. I think the girls are doing a great job.
"The losses to Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA, they're all Top 10 teams. By the end of the year, we could be a Top 10 team."
Last night showed the Wahine how far they have to go.
Their lack of seasoning was telling at the end of the first two games, and through most of the third. In Games 1 and 2, the Wahine stayed within a point until UCLA reached 23. From there, the Bruins dominated, a trend that started early in the final game.
"It's nice to play together for so long," Porter said. "It's really nice to be able to feed off each other. It's a definite advantage."
The Bruins stuffed Kim Willoughby (16 kills) and Tanja Nikolic (13) to end the first game, ran away behind Porter and two of Willoughby's 10 hitting errors in the second, and weathered one UH charge in the third.
The Wahine, who started Margaret Vakasausau at setter for the second night in a row, couldn't keep the ball in enough on offense — even with the 5-foot-6 Selsor an inviting front-row target — and never came close to stopping Porter on defense.
"She's starting to see the court better," said Banachowski, whose franchise player is also part of the Bruins' basketball and track programs. "We just need to get her enough sets to keep her happy."
Porter saw 47 last night — six fewer than Willoughby, who had her worst night in a season where she has set career kill highs in half her matches.
Only Gustin, whose 13 kills came on 70-percent hitting, was consistently effective for UH — for the first time this weekend at her new outside position. She came into the match hitting .167.
Wahine freshman Melody Eckmier collected five blocks while older sister Angela had seven for UCLA. Both Eckmiers red-shirted last season.
In the third-place match, 19th-ranked Kansas State swept Michigan, 30-25, 30-22, 30-21.
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ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Most Outstanding: Kristee Porter (UCLA)
Erin Moore (Michigan), Liz Wegner (Kansas State), Ashley Bowles (UCLA), Lauren Fendrick (UCLA), Margaret Vakasausau (Hawai'i), Kim Willoughby (Hawai'i).
