Wahine sweep Colorado
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
After its first two volleyball matches, fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i appears to be in mid-season form. In other words, the Rainbow Wahine look like they're beating up on WAC opponents.
Advertiser library photo
In reality, Friday's sweep came against ninth-ranked Ohio State. Last night's 30-18, 30-21, 30-22 cruise came over 21st-ranked Colorado, before 5,443 at Stan Sheriff Center. Both opponents ended last season in the NCAA Tournament and will probably go again this year.
"I've trained my butt off since January," said All-America Lily Kahumoku.
The Rainbow Wahine need a reality check. It could come as early as 5 p.m. today, when they play 11th-ranked UCLA in their annual showdown for the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic championship. Both teams are 2-0 and somewhat stunned at their overwhelming success.
"Truthfully, I was worried our record might be the other way around," said UCLA coach Andy Banachowski after his team dropped OSU (1-2), 30-25, 30-25, 30-25, in yesterday's opener.
The Bruins lost a trio of four-year starters from last year's team, but feature a much bigger block than UH has seen — and shredded — thus far. Friday, All-America Kim Willoughby carved up OSU. Last night, All-America Lily Kahumoku, who sat out last season, played her way out of Friday's nervous funk.
• Who: Hawai'i (2-0) vs. UCLA (2-0) • When: 5 p.m. • Where: Stan Sheriff Center • TV: K5 • Radio: 4:45 p.m., 1420AM
"Because of the anxiety and nervousness, that took a lot of energy from me Friday," Kahumoku said. "I was exhausted and I'm in good shape. I've trained my butt off since January."
Today's game
She had 13 kills without an error in the first two games last night. Willoughby would finish with 12 and Maja Gustin, who sat out the first game to rest her sore foot, had 10.
"Lily was a little shaky against OSU," said Colorado coach, and Kamehameha Schools graduate, Pi'i Aiu. "Just getting back in the swing of things, maybe. She was fabulous tonight. Watching the Ohio State match, we thought we'd focus a little more on Willoughby because Lily was still coming back. It only took her a game to come back, I guess."
Willoughby all but erased the drama from the back line in the first five points, jump-serving two aces and giving the Rainbow Wahine an advantage they would not lose the rest of the night.
With Kahumoku (five kills, no errors) and Lauren Duggins (four kills) providing automatic offense, the Buffs (0-3) never came close in that game and little changed in Game 2, with the exception of the Rainbow faces. Gustin started her first game. Freshman Susie Boogaard and seniors Jen Carey and Hedder Ilustre also came in and the dominance never dissipated. Hawai'i presented yet another look in Game 3 and still pulled away from a young Colorado team that was no longer intimidated, simply not yet good enough.
In contrast, UH appeared very good, particularly this early in the season. It controlled nearly every moment of its first two matches, using a dozen different faces.
"We're playing pretty good defense so it's hard for teams to earn points," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "We're passing well so we're not giving up points. Those are good signs for us.
"Both wins looked easy but they're coming against quality teams."
QUICK SETS: Hawai'i and UCLA have won six Classic titles apiece. The only other teams to have won this tournament are Nebraska (1990) and Florida (1998). ... The Bruins are defending champions. ... UCLA and the Rainbow Wahine also have 10 national titles between them, with the latest in 1991. That was UCLA's sixth. Hawai'i's last title came in 1987.
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2002 UH RAINBOW WAHINE SCHEDULE
September
Today — 15th Hawaiian Airlines Classic (UCLA vs. HAWAI'I, 5 p.m.). 5 — Eighth annual Aston Imua Challenge (Washington vs. San Diego State, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'i vs. San Francisco, 7). 6 — Eighth annual Aston Imua Challenge (San Francisco vs. Washington, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. San Diego State, 7). 7 — Eighth annual Aston Imua Challenge (San Diego State vs. San Francisco, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. Washington, 7). 13-14 — Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. 20 — Houston. 21 — St. Mary's. 22 — Houston vs. St. Mary's (1 p.m.). 27 — *Rice.
October
5 — *Louisiana Tech. 13 — *Tulsa. 17 — *at UTEP. 19 — *at Southern Methodist. 21-22 — Notre Dame. 24 — *San Jose State. 25 — *Fresno State.
November
1 — *at Nevada. 2 — *at Boise State. 8 — *Nevada. 9 — *Boise State. 10 — Stanford. 15 — *at Fresno State. 16 — *at San Jose State. 22-24 — at WAC Tournament (Reno, Nev.). 26 — at Brigham Young. 27 — at Utah.
December
5-7 — NCAA first and second rounds (TBA). 12-14 — NCAA Regionals (TBA). 19,21 — NCAA Championship (New Orleans).
* WAC matches
All home matches begin at 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center, unless noted.
