Posted on: Saturday, October 18, 2003
UH faces improved Southern Methodist
Advertiser Staff
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There the similarities end.
The Rainbow Wahine have won their past 80 over WAC opponents. They are 8-0 against the Mustangs, having lost just one game to SMU four years ago.
The 'Bows are in the top four nationally in hitting, kills and assists. The Mustangs are 11th in the country in digs.
If All-American Lily Kahu-moku can play tonight, Hawai'i will start six seniors and freshman setter Kanoe Kamana'o. Kahumoku missed Thursday's match after suffering from back spasms the end of Wednesday's practice. She practiced yesterday, but couldn't finish.
"She'll try again at 2 p.m. tomorrow (today)," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "If she feels better she could play, but I'd call it very doubtful."
| Match facts
• Where: Stan Sheriff Center • When: 7 tonight—No. 2 Hawai'i (18-1, 6-0 WAC) vs. Southern Methodist (15-4, 6-0 WAC). 5 p.m. tomorrowiHawai'i vs. Arizona (7-10) • TV/Radio: Live on KFVE (5) and 1420 AM • Tickets: Todayi$12 lower level, $9 upper, $8 senior citizens (65-older), $5 students 4-18, $3 UH system students. Tomorrowi$16 lower level, $13 upper, $9 senior citizens (65-older), $5 students 4-18, $3 UH system students. • Parking: $3 |
"It's pretty much the same lineup as last year, they're just all better," Shoji said. "It's scary ... for next year."
Picked to finish seventh in the preseason, the Mustangs ripped through their first four WAC matches. They lost the first two games to Rice, the favorite to win the East, then changed their uniforms and won the match in five.
Everything they have touched in the WAC has turned into a win.
"I'm happy for SMU," Shoji said. "I think they worked hard and we'll just have to see how good they really are."
The Mustangs are better than last year, when they went 12-17, with just six WAC victories all season.
Hawai'i's mission to improve on last year's final-four finish is a work in progress. In Thursday's sweep of Louisiana Tech, it was the Techsters who played closer to their potential much of the night. In the 'Bows' defense, they were without Kahumoku and Kim Willoughby was coming off a week of rest after suffering from strep throat. Hawai'i's also showed continued improvement in what has been their weakest area, with Lauren Duggins anchoring a resurgent block. UH is averaging twice as many stuffs the past three matches (4.8 per game) as it did the first 16.
