Rainbow Wahine open WAC run

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

That 58-match conference winning streak second-ranked Hawai'i takes into the WAC volleyball season, which begins tonight against Rice, is gaudy but serves no useful purpose. It would only help the Rainbow Wahine to play someone good enough to end it, and any team that did would be ecstatic.

Hawai'i hasn't lost a WAC match in three years and 11 months. The last time was to Brigham Young, which is no longer in the league. The 'Bows are 96-2 in six WAC seasons, with four conference titles and a 126-5 lifetime record against this year's teams.

And San Jose State, the Rainbow Wahine's most persistent pursuer the past four years, is now as fragile as setter Lindsey Rule's bad back.

But you only have to look as far as last week to realize the rest of the WAC has closed the gap. Nevada swept 25th-ranked Colorado State in the Rams' first three-game home loss in five years, and Fresno State took out San Diego.

Fresno State and Nevada received votes for the first time in this week's poll. The Wolf Pack, especially, has been a breath of fresh WAC air, coming off an NCAA appearance with nine new players and a better team.

"It says something for the WAC when Nevada won a big game and Fresno is doing real well," UH coach Dave Shoji says. "In fact, Fresno beat us in the spring. San Jose is an enigma right now, but I know they are better than their record. So I know we have at least six competitive WAC matches."

From the bottom up, the conference is better. Their opposition has been relatively weak. But Louisi-ana Tech is off to its best start since 1994, and Tulsa has won three more matches than all of last season.

Rice, picked to win the East, won its first tournament in three years and is coming off its best season since 1998.

Hawai'i plays each of those teams — and every other East team — once, and meets West teams twice in the regular season. The WAC Tournament will be Nov. 22-24 at Nevada's 1,800-seat Virginia Street Gym. UH has secured a block of tickets that are on sale at its box office. All-session passes go for $30 (adults) and $15 (students).

Hawai'i is the overwhelming favorite to win now, and looks to get even better when all-region middle blocker Maja Gustin comes back from a stress fracture.

"We could have Maja back in a couple weeks, or it could be longer," Shoji says. "But she figures into the mix because she brings so much offense to our team. We will be a better team with her in there."

With that to ponder, here's what the other WAC West coaches will come at Hawai'i with this season:

BOISE STATE

• Coach: Scott Sandel, first year.

• So far: Megan Tranter (Jr.) averages nearly 3 1/2 kills a game and had 25 in Tuesday's 2-hour, 24-minute match at Idaho ... Middle Tameisha Hastings and setter Chera Sommer are the Broncos' first seniors in two years. Hastings is also the only Bronco hitting over .200. ... All nine returning players started at some point last season ... Broncos are last in every WAC team statistic except blocking, where they are next to last ... Sandel comes from Northern Michigan, where he took the Wildcats to the last two NCAA Division II Tournaments. Prior to that, he was an assistant at South Carolina.

• Impact Player: Megan Tranter has clearly emerged as the leader, with a mix of talent, competitiveness and no-excuses attitude.

Coach's Call: "We're a program trying to change a culture. It's a learning experience everyday. Our success is measured in small goals we set. We can't measure success in wins and losses now."

FRESNO STATE

• Coach: Lindy Vivas, 204-140, 12th year.

• So far: Won two tournaments on the road and another at home ... Ranks among top 25 nationally in hitting (.299) and kills (16.55) ... Beat Hawai'i — without Lily Kahumoku — 30-19 in a spring tournament ... Four Bulldogs are averaging at least three kills ... Hitters Christy Burnett (Sr.) and Kristen Fenton (So.) have a dozen double-doubles between them ... Middles Carrie Hartt (Jr.) and Java Johnson (Sr.) are top six in WAC blocking.

• Impact player: Setter Whitney Arena, all-conference last year as a freshman and now the anchor and instigator.

• Coach's Call: "We don't have any big superstar who can carry us night to night to night, so they all have to contribute what we need. They've been doing that."

NEVADA

• Coach: Devin Scruggs, 81-59, sixth year.

• So far: Won two tournaments in the preseason and had a nine-match, 26-game winning streak snapped last weekend ... Five starters earned all-tournament honors ... All-conference middle Michelle More (Sr.) is averaging nearly six kills and has three tournament MVP honors. She holds all the school blocking records and should move to No. 3 in kills this week. ... Team is ninth nationally in assists (15.33) and 19th in kills (16.63) ... Upset Mountain West teams BYU and CSU when they were ranked ... Connecticut transfer Laura Wooley (Jr.), the team's primary passer and second in kills (3.20) and digs (3.05), suffered a dislocated (non-hitting) shoulder Wednesday in an ROTC class .

• Impact Player: Michelle More, hitting .405 despite seeing mostly double blocks.

• Coach's Call: "We're definitely bigger than last year, a little more athletic and yet still have ball control. And the people that were good last year are even better this year. ... Michelle More has been absolutely amazing and the difference is, the supporting cast is a little stronger this year. There's a little more offense in all areas to take the pressure off her."

SAN JOSE STATE

• Coach: Craig Choate, 173-112, 10th year.

• So far: Coming off its 12th NCAA appearance and fourth consecutive 20-win season, SJSU has lost three of its past four to drop below .500 ... Lindsey Rule (So.), the Spartans' only experienced setter, is playing despite suffering a slipped disc. She is not able to practice everyday. ... San Jose is next-to-last in WAC in hitting (.168) and assists (12.79) ... Stephanie Pascucci (Sr.) and Kimberly Noble (Jr.) are seventh and eighth in WAC kills, averaging 3.78 apiece ... Lost all-WAC hitter Brianna Blair and all-WAC setter Savannah Smith off last year's team, which finished the year No. 24 i the first time since 1990 the team ended up ranked.

• Impact Player: Lindsey Rule, whose health could decide the Spartans' fortunes.

• Coach's Call: "We have a big problem with a severely hurt setter (Rule) and that's our only setter. We're losing to people we shouldn't be losing to."