Wahine turn back Russians
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Monday, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine rose to No. 2 in the national volleyball rankings. Last night, they finally found an opponent that justified their ascent.
Samorodok, a professional team from Russia's second-highest league, took it to the Rainbows in an exhibition played before a crowd of 3,996 at Stan Sheriff Center. Hawai'i gave it right back and more, soaring to a 31-29, 30-21, 28-30, 30-26 victory that meant nothing to their record and everything to their ego.
Samorodok hit the ball harder and brought it back faster than any opponent UH faced in winning its first eight matches of the season. But even it could not cope with All-Americans Lily Kahumoku and Kim Willoughby — who combined for 51 of the 68 UH kills — and a Hawai'i block that finally showed its face. Ironically, it came against the first team this year that actually got into Hawai'i's face.
"It's honestly easier to block players that know how to hit and hit hard," said UH senior Jen Carey, who was in on seven of the 'Bows' 16 stuffs. "It's easier to read their arm swing, easier to get in front of the ball, compared to weaker teams where they don't know where the ball is going."
On a night when camaraderie broke the language barrier on the court and Samorodok's assistant video-taped between coaching demands, Hawai'i played its finest match of the season. It had to. Samorodok did not have a weak link, with the exception of adjusting to NCAA rules; internationally, games go to 25.
The Rainbow Wahine brought up 69 digs around their suddenly big block, with libero Melissa Villaroman amassing an amazing 25, give or take the many statisticians clearly missed in Game 4. She would have tied a school record — set by Willoughby last year — if the match had counted.
Kahumoku and Willoughby thoroughly outplayed their professional opponents to get the Rainbows going in Game 1, and anchored the offense throughout despite the lack of deception. Kahumoku had 26 kills in 57 swings and Willoughby 25 in 60.
"I am impressed," Samorodok coach Victor Bardok said. "I have a good feeling about them. Numbers 3 (Willoughby) and 9 (Kahumoku) proved they are better than 10 (Olga Ivankova) and 11 (Elena Svinolobova). I could take them on my team."
After scoring the first three points of the night with Willoughby jump-serving, Hawai'i took time to adjust to a team that could actually inflict damage. The Russians went on a 19-8 run before the 'Bows bounced back.
They scored on a Kahumoku kill and ace and a Willoughby blast, cutting their deficit to 19-14. They caught Samorodok at 21 and blew by on Willoughby's third ace. There would be six more ties, the last at 29. Willoughby's 10th kill, after a remarkable dig by Margaret Vakasausau, gave UH game point and it converted when the Samorodok blockers touched the net.
The Rainbow rally left Samorodok stunned. It stayed with Hawai'i early in Game 2, but Willoughby, Kahumoku and the return of the Rainbow block — anchored by Carey, Karin Lundqvist and Duggins — were ultimately too much.
The Russians went to Plan B in Game 3, swinging away from the back row to avoid the UH block.
"The back row really gave us trouble," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "We didn't adjust very well, couldn't recognize it."
Hawai'i energized itself in the final game with a 5-0 run — scoring twice on Duggins' aces — to surge ahead 14-13. There would be five more ties, the last at 25, before the Rainbows finally stifled Samorodok.
QUICK SETS: Samorodok plays Brigham Young-Hawai'i, the second-ranked team in NCAA Division II, tonight at Cannon Activities Center. ... Hawai'i plays matches that count Friday, against Houston, and Saturday, against St. Mary's (Calif.). The Cougars and Gaels will play Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
