Undefeated Wahine sweep past Cal Poly

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	WHO: Third-ranked Hawai'i (7-0) vs. Cal Poly (1-6) WHEN: 7 tonight WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center SERIES: Hawai'i 25, Cal Poly 3 TV/RADIO: Live on KFVE (5) and KKEA (1420 AM) TICKETS: Lower bowl (single seats only)–$13. Upper bowl–$10 (adults), $8 (seniors), $6 (students).

The Rainbow Wahine (7-0) remained unbeaten with a 30-28, 30-27, 30-26 victory over the Mustangs (1-6), who have lost their last six and face UH again tonight.

Hawai'i played without middle blocker Maja Gustin, who missed her fourth consecutive match with a stress fracture. All-America Lily Kahumoku rested to try and recover from the stomach flu. She could play tonight. Reserve middle blocker Melody Eckmier is also out, for at least another week, with a sprained left knee.

Cal Poly has its own problems. All-Big West senior Worthy Lien — fifth in the country in blocking last year — returned last night after missing the last five matches with a sprained ankle and bad back. She helped, dropping in on six of nine stuffs, but wasn't enough to pull the Mustangs past UH at the end of each game.

With Kahumoku and Gustin gone from their natural positions — just as they were a year ago — the Rainbows flashed back to 2001 form. All-America Kim Willoughby was in the middle of all the action, with 21 kills, 13 digs and a career-high six aces.

"She has an impact on every facet of the game," Cal Poly coach Steve Schlick said.

Lauren Duggins (10 kills) and Karin Lundqvist (nine) pitched in on offense for UH. Libero Melissa Villaroman gathered 11 digs.

"It was like last year all over again," Villaroman said. "It was as if Susie (Boogaard) was Maja having to play on the outside and Kim was the one getting all the kills. It was kind of funny."

Despite the flashbacks, UH never found a rhythm. Willoughby had her sixth double-double and upped her six-kill-a-game average, but hit just .193, with 10 errors as she flew all over the court. "She was putting a lot of pressure on herself," Villaroman said. "Trying to do a lot."

Freshman Boogaard, playing left side for UH for only the second day, hit zero with six kills and six errors in 35 swings.

"We didn't have much time to put that lineup on the floor — maybe one day —Êso it was a little ragged," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "Boogaard hasn't had enough repetitions on the left, but she'll be fine. I think she learned a lot tonight."

The Mustangs, tall and tenacious, out-hit and out-blocked the 'Bows. They also made a run at them at the end of each game, leaning on Lien's inspiration, setter Carly O'Halloran's deception and Molly Duncan's take-one-for-the-team defense.

The Rainbow Wahine often looked lost with their missing links. Cal Poly came here with an anemic .160 attack percentage, but was hitting .533 as it pulled ahead 15-9 in Game 1. UH couldn't catch up until Jen Carey came in to set and Willoughby got warm, dropping four of her nine first-game kills in a 6-0 run that tied it at 17.

There would be seven more ties, the last at 27. Then Willoughby, who had scored the Rainbows' three previous points, launched two aces. The first collided loudly with the baseline as the Mustangs watched. The second nearly took Duncan's arm off.

Cal Poly delayed the decisive point with a kill but, after a UH timeout, freshman Nicole Bertotti served long to give Hawai'i the game. It was one of 13 Mustang serving errors in the match, five coming after Hawai'i had scored its 25th point.

A 12-7 surge — highlighted by 5-foot-6 Hedder Ilustre's first kill of the season —Êput Hawai'i in control of Game 2 at 27-22. The Mustangs closed to 29-28 before Willoughby's 15th kill ended it. They wouldn't go away again in the third, with enough dinks and digs to battle the 'Bows to the end.

"We were just off," Shoji admitted. "Passing was a little off. The defense never consistently put the ball where the setter could do much with it. And the timing with the middle sets is still not where we want it.

"That was not the lineup we envisioned earlier in the year. But it's going to have to do for now."

Cal Poly had five hitters with at least six kills, including setter O'Halloran, who went 7-for-13. Duncan collected 17 digs.

Tuesday Hawai'i plays an exhibition against Samorodok of Russia, which watched last night's match.