No. 2 Rainbows sweep Boise State
Advertiser Staff
Second-ranked Hawai'i stayed hot in sub-freezing Idaho weather last night, sweeping Boise State, 30-15, 30-14, 30-18. The WAC volleyball match was watched by 648 at Bronco Gym.
The 78-minute victory kept the Rainbow Wahine (21-0, 9-0 WAC) unbeaten and extended their winning streak against WAC teams to 67 matches. They have won a school-record 48 straight games going back to Sept. 7.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Broncos (1-20, 0-9) haven't won since sweeping Eastern Kentucky in August. They have claimed only seven games all season, the last coming three weeks ago. They won only one match all last year.
"They're still spirited," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "They just don't have enough talent."
His team hit .408 for the match and stifled Boise into negative .037. All-America Kim Willoughby went for 17 kills and hit .467. All-America Lily Kahumoku added 10 kills and as many digs.
The Rainbow blockers were also effective. Maja Gustin and Melody Eckmier combined to go 9-for-14 without an error and Lauren Duggins added eight kills. Duggins, Eckmier — the 'Bows' only healthy front-row substitute — and Jennifer Carey each had three block assists and a solo.
"We've all talked about playing at the highest level no matter who the opponent is," Shoji says. "We don't want to play down to anybody. We went in and out of playing well and not so well tonight, but for the most part we were efficient enough."
The Rainbow Wahine return tonight to prepare for their final regular-season homestand. They play Nevada and Boise again Friday and Saturday, then take on defending NCAA champion Stanford on Sunday at 6 p.m.
Shoji said he is "not counting on" starting middle Karin Lundqvist to be ready for Stanford. She hurt her knee Friday and UH has not determined the seriousness of the injury. Starting right-side hitter Nohea Tano will practice for the first time since injuring her ankle two weeks ago.
The Cardinal, ranked sixth, upset top-ranked USC last night, 30-26, 16-30, 26-30, 30-28, 16-14. The Trojans won the teams' earlier
Pac-10 match, 24-22 in the fifth game. Stanford has played a dozen matches against ranked teams this season. Hawai'i's last ranked opponent was UCLA, two months ago.
"There's nothing we can do except practice hard and be ready tactically," Shoji said. "I have no doubt we can play at that level. There are some good teams we've played the last few weeks and we've been able to handle them like good teams should.
"My only question is if we've actually played against a legitimate block. I'm not sure if Stanford has it, but it's probably better than anybody we've played. What that does to Kim and Lily I'm not sure. It may bother them or they may play like they have against every other team."
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