Wahine sweep Utah State

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

It had been so long, the University of Hawai'i had forgotten just how sweet a volleyball sweep can be.

Hawai'i's Lauren Duggins swings for one of her six kills off a set by Margaret Vakasausau (1) in last night's match against Utah State. Duggins also added six blocks. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It was nice to look at the clock and see it was 8:30, not 11 p.m.," said UH sophomore Lauren Duggins, who collected her best numbers — 10 digs, six kills, six stuffs — of the season. "I can still do homework."

The Wahine's first sweep of this 3-3 season came after three losses to Top-10 teams and two ragged victories last weekend. But last night, they never flinched.

Before 3,832 at Stan Sheriff Center, setters Margaret Vakasausau and Jennifer Carey went to outside hitters Kim Willoughby (18 kills) and Tanja Nikolic (13) early and often. But they made time to make Maja Gustin and Melody Eckmier threats early. Duggins' presence became more pronounced as the early night wore on.

"Lauren played a lot more aggressive," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "She's getting the feel. She's going to be a good player. She got involved, she touched a lot of balls, played really well."

Duggins knows what's missing, but it goes against her nature.

"I've got to be mean. More aggressive. Just go," Duggins said. "If we're up early, yelling and screaming for the ball, our setters tell us they'll set us. If we're not there, they can't do that."

Duggins and Eckmier, both first-year starters, know their involvement is crucial, particularly after it was emphasized relentlessly the past week of practice. They buried half their swings last night, and were in on most of Hawai'i's 10 blocks.

They were major players in the Aggies' .071 hitting. To complete the blowout, Hawai'i out-aced USU 9-zip and out-dug them 66-45 — with most of the Aggies' digs coming in two spectacularly long rallies. It was the first time this season Utah State (2-2) has been out-dug.

Hawai'i's only deficit was 4-2 in the first. Michelle Matheson, one of five seniors Utah State started, kept her team in it early with four kills. She would get two more the rest of the night.

"It was a team breakdown against a real good Hawai'i team," USU coach Burt Fuller said. "Our kids were nervous. ... I think what had a lot to do with it is our kids felt we had an opportunity here, and once things started going bad they just got tighter and tighter."

"We expended the least amount of energy," he said. "Only if that correlates into our best match. But we needed to make it a fast match if we could because tomorrow night will be tough. We just couldn't afford to go four or five tonight."

That would be against sixth-ranked Southern California, which swept Cincinnati, 30-19, 30-23, 30-13, in the opening match of last night's doubleheader.

The Trojans (2-1) used a dozen players, and got double-digit kills from freshman Keao Burdine (15) and All-Americans Jennifer Pahl (11) and April Ross (10). Pahl also dropped in on seven of USC's 13 blocks.

The Bearcats (2-2) hit only .065, with Becky Stahl going for nine kills and Ashley Grooms eight.

Cincinnati coach Reed Sunahara, a 1981 Hilo High graduate, called USC the best team he's seen in his five years with the Bearcats. The Trojans, like Hawai'i, are coming off a final-four season.

"I think they're more balanced than UCLA," Shoji said. "They're big and, as far as I can see, they don't have a blocking weakness."

QUICK SETS: Transfer Litiana Damuni has left the UH team for personal reasons. Damuni, a Kahuku graduate, played two years at Salt Lake City Community College, and took last year off. ... Tomorrow's matches will not be televised because of UH football. ... Wahine Olympians Robyn Ah Mow and Heather Bown are home, and have watched Hawai'i's last few matches.