Rainbow Wahine roll past Santa Clara
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i made another good West Coast Conference volleyball opponent look bad yesterday, and this time it happened on the West Coast.
Advertiser library photo • Aug. 5, 2003
The second-ranked Rainbow Wahine (13-1) ran their winning streak to a dozen with a 30-25, 30-27, 30-22 victory at 16th-ranked Santa Clara. The non-conference afternoon match was watched by 1,562 at Leavey Center. It was the home opener for the Broncos (8-5), who are 1-4 against ranked teams this season.
"We started playing good defense and got in a good rhythm," UH coach Dave Shoji said.
"That's a pretty good team with a good attack," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "But we started playing good defense and got in a good rhythm."
Santa Clara is one of four WCC teams in the Top 25; UH defeated 24th-ranked Loyola Marymount before leaving on its first trip of the year. The 'Bows returned last night. They play Fresno State, picked to finish second in the WAC behind Hawai'i, at Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday.
Yesterday's match was close for the first half of the first game. The Rainbow Wahine broke from 15-all behind kills from All-Americans Lily Kahumoku and Kim Willoughby and a stuff by third-team All-American Lauren Duggins and freshman Kanoe Kamana'o.
It was the beginning of a 7-2 surge that put Hawai'i in control of the game and, ultimately, the match.
The Rainbows ran away early in Game 2, scoring five in a row with Maja Gustin serving to pull ahead, 15-9. UH needed four serves to end the game as Santa Clara closed to 29-27 before Willoughby's 12th kill earned the final point.
"A lot of people had nice games," Shoji said, "but whenever we needed a big sideout it seemed to be Kim and Lily.
"And, once we got up 2-0, it took some spirit away from Santa Clara."
The Broncos gave up six straight points in the final game as UH pushed ahead, 10-7, with Kahumoku serving. The 'Bows extended their advantage to 26-15 before the deficit was cut against the reserves.
Willoughby, who leads the nation at seven kills a game, had a match-high 19 yesterday. Kahumoku added 16 and Duggins 10, including six in the last game. Duggins also dropped in on six of Hawai'i's nine stuffs.
The Rainbow Wahine served eight aces, with nine service errors, while Santa Clara had just two aces with six errors. UH also out-hit the Broncos .336 to .218. Becky Potter, Santa Clara's second-team All-American, finished with 12 kills.
Shoji's team accomplished its goal on the road, opening with a victory Friday at San Jose State in the WAC opener, then sweeping a ranked team. More specifically, Shoji saw what he wanted from his players away from home — somewhat.
"They played pretty much the same, which is good," Shoji said. "It helped that in both places we had good crowds from Hawai'i."
QUICK SETS: Hawai'i has not lost a road match since Nov. 24, 2001. ... Santa Clara coach Jon Wallace is still looking for his 100th victory. He has a 99-37 record in his fifth season. Wallace has guided the Broncos into the NCAA Tournament his first four years. ... Hawai'i leads the series with Santa Clara, 6-0.
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