San Jose, Fresno present 1-2 punch for Rainbows
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Volleyball quantity and quality collide the next two nights at Stan Sheriff Center for second-ranked Hawai'i. The unbeaten Rainbow Wahine conclude a six-match-in-nine-days — and three cities — swing against Western Athletic Conference West challengers San Jose State and Fresno State.
The Spartans and Bulldogs make up the toughest 1-2 combination in the conference for Hawai'i. Fresno is off to its best start ever and receiving votes in the Top 25. San Jose, hampered all season by an injury to its only experienced setter, had won five in a row before falling at Nevada last weekend.
The Spartans are chasing their fifth consecutive 20-win season and third straight NCAA Tournament. Stephanie Pascucci and Kimberly Noble, preseason all-conference picks, anchor the offense. Liz Hudson, San Jose's only returning all-WAC player, is its sole 6-footer.
"They have four starters back at hitting positions and they were an NCAA team," UH coach Dave Shoji says, "so I just feel like they are a dangerous team."
While the Spartans have struggled early, Fresno has flourished. Its only losses came against Nevada and fifth-ranked UC-Santa Barbara. Coach Lindy Vivas traces some of the success back to the spring, when her team beat Hawai'i — without All-American Lily Kahumoku — 30-19 in a tournament.
"That was part of a spring where we learned to be more consistent through a whole match and play every point hard," says Vivas, a Punahou graduate. "The reward was we did that long enough in one game to beat a team like Hawai'i. In fall or spring that's good."
The success has snowballed in the fall, with Fresno getting contributions from every corner. Four hitters average more than three kills. Vivas admits this is not her most talented team, but calls it her best.
If it wins tomorrow, that will be confirmed. The Bulldogs have played UH 28 times and lost every one. Despite last spring, their odds remain prohibitive.
"Watching video tape, the game seems slower," Vivas says. "I have to admit watching Hawai'i ... its game is fast even on video. You can tell the ball is being hit hard. That's the biggest difference. Clearly, Hawai'i hits the ball harder and faster.
"What's so hard against a team like Hawa'i is that even if you serve tough and take away one or two options, they still have the left sides. We might have our best serving match of the year and it may not make a difference if Lily and Kim (Willoughby) are on. With most teams, that would be an advantage."
Maja Gustin, UH's all-region middle, should see her first action since opening weekend. She has gone through full practices all week after two months of treating the stress fracture in her foot with swimming, meditation and yoga. Nohea Tano, starting right-side hitter, sprained her left ankle Sunday in practice and is out 2-to-4 weeks.
QUICK SETS: Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku hit more milestones Tuesday. Willoughby passed Therese Crawford to move into fourth on the career kill list with 1,484. Kahumoku became the 13th Rainbow Wahine to surpass 1,000 kills. She now has 1,018.
