Hawai'i rolls past Nevada in volleyball
Advertiser Staff
Nevada put up an early fight but ultimately could not slow No. 2-ranked Hawai'i's surge to its 66th straight Western Athletic Conference volleyball victory last night.
The WAC's two top teams played in Reno before a sellout of 2,023 at Virginia Street Gym, which lists its capacity as 1,800.
The Rainbow Wahine (20-0) won, 30-25, 30-21, 30-20, running their WAC record to 8-0. They are now 1 1/2 matches ahead of the Wolf Pack (18-4, 7-2) in the Western Division.
Nevada, off to its best start ever, upset two ranked teams this year. It is moving toward its second consecutive NCAA Tournament and played like it in Game 1, shaking off a poor start to catch UH at 19. But the Pack could never pass the 'Bows — in that game or any other.
Hawai'i's worst moment came late in the first game, when starting middle Karin Lundqvist went down with a knee injury. She did not play again and was on crutches later. Coach Dave Shoji said there was little swelling and trainers hoped it was just a sprain.
The Rainbows pulled that first game out by scoring five of the last six points. Kim Willoughby got the first with one of her match-high 25 kills. Lily Kahumoku got the last with one of her 17. The rest of the 'Bows had 14 kills all night.
"The key was we didn't give up the lead," Shoji said. "That was huge because there was a big crowd. Once we won that game I think they got a little down, and simply couldn't stop Kim or Lily."
The Wolf Pack was nearly as one-dimensional as UH. Middles Salaia Salavea (12 kills) and Michelle More (10) provided 61 percent of the offense, but combined for just eight kills in the final two games.
Nevada stayed with Hawai'i to 7-all in Game 2, but missed four serves to help UH to a 17-12 lead. The Pack, which hit zero for the game, couldn't rally then and never got over a 9-1 deficit in Game 3.
Laura Wooley, who had missed the last eight matches with a shoulder injury, returned for Nevada last night. But the team's second-leading hitter had but four kills and hit negative .103. By the end, everyone was having trouble putting the ball down against the 'Bows.
"Our defense wore them down again," Shoji said. "And when we dig, most sets go outside and they do a great job out there. The rest of the team really played their roles and did a good job."
Hawai'i has handed Nevada its only two home losses in the last two years. The teams play again, in Hawai'i, Friday.
UH takes a 45-game win streak to Idaho today, where it plays Boise State (1-19).
QUICK SETS: Today's broadcast from Boise will begin at 3:45 p.m. on 1420 AM, and end at 4:30 so the station can run its Warrior Warmup football pre-game show. It will have volleyball reports until the match ends.
