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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 25, 2003

Rainbow Wahine hammer LSU in 3

Advertiser Staff

It was Louisiana Luau Night in Baton Rouge and second-ranked Hawai'i feasted on LSU.

The Rainbow Wahine (22-1) ran their winning streak to 21 with a 30-13, 30-23, 30-22 victory over the Tigers (9-13) yesterday. The non-conference match was played before 1,313 at Pete Maravich Assembly Center — the sixth-largest volleyball crowd in LSU history.

Many, if not most, were there to see UH All-American Kim Willoughby, who comes from nearby Napoleonville and was a high school legend in Louisiana. Nearly 100 came from that small village of 802, despite the homecoming football game at Assumption High.

The return to Louisiana was the fulfillment of a promise Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji made to Willoughby on his home recruiting visit four years ago. Willoughby got a bonus last year, when she helped the Rainbow Wahine to the final four in New Orleans. This trip has been much more relaxing.

"Kim even made mention to one of our local newspapers about how much pressure there was at the final four and she didn't have to deal with it for this match," said Sandy Fussell, Willoughby's high school coach. "She said she could just go out and enjoy herself and I think that was the case.

"She had a tremendous following tonight of people who watched her play over the years. It was pretty awesome to see. And just like in high school, all the younger players flocked around her after the game."

Willoughby did not disappoint. The nation's kill leader went for 18, hit .517 and collected 10 digs for her 11th double-double of the season.

She was complemented by Nohea Tano's nine kills, and seven each by Maja Gustin and Lauren Duggins. Gustin hit .538 and Duggins dropped in on seven of Hawai'i's eight stuffs.

The Tigers started five freshmen and two juniors, including Regan Hood, who leads the SEC with 4.45 kills per game. Hood mustered just nine kills and hit .214.

The 'Bows went on a 10-1 tear to break to an 18-8 advantage in Game 1. LSU hit negative .079 and fell fast. It was Hawai'i's third-largest margin of victory this season.

"They were a little nervous," Shoji said of the Tigers. "They had a nice crowd and they're starting five freshmen, so I figured they'd be a little in awe, but they settled down in Game 2 and they were OK."

The Tigers led Game 2 before the first timeout, but were outscored 12-4 to fall into a 23-17 hole. In Game 3, the Rainbow reserves fell behind 11-8, then won 10 of the next 13 points to take control.

Hawai'i hit .355 in the match, to .105 for LSU, which has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1992. It reached the final four in 1990 and '91.

Six friends from Napoleonville made the 6-hour drive to Houston Thursday to watch Willoughby and the Rainbow Wahine play Rice, then went out with her for her fill of cajun food. Last night, Fussell chose the cuisine for the team and it was hardly cajun.

"Kim's going to get a whole lot of pizza tonight," Fussell said.

UH flies to Tulsa this morning for a WAC match against the 'Canes tonight. It will be broadcast live on 1420 AM at 1:50 p.m. HST. The 'Bows' next home match is Thursday against Boise State.