Nevada gets its wish in Hawai'i
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
RENO, Nev. — Rice was only a second-seeded volleyball decoy.
Destiny demanded today's Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship come down to Hawai'i and Nevada, in a Virginia Street Gym both cozy (1,800 capacity) and cold in wind-chilled 30-degree weather.
The date was drawn in pencil here six weeks ago when the Wolf Pack nibbled at greatness. It was two points from defeating the then-sixth-ranked Rainbow Wahine in front of a wild home crowd.
It was sealed in blood last Saturday when Nevada beat UH in the first game, tried to break its spirit in the second, then went down to another heartbreaking five-game loss before nearly 9,000 at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Pack had never played that well in paradise before. Hawai'i had not had a conference opponent come after it so tenaciously in this century. A rivalry — defined by Nevada coach Devin Scruggs as "who you want to beat more than anyone else" — was conceived.
"I want to win so bad tomorrow," said Nevada's Carly Sorensen, whose 20 kills helped oust the Owls yesterday. "It's really unbelievable, that loss. I've never been more upset by a loss in my whole life as I was in Hawai'i. I just want to take it to them."
The Rainbow Wahine are ready. They have been all season.
"You could say their players might start wondering if they can beat us," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "If you're really tough and have gone five with a team you should think you can beat them the third time."
Last night's upset was just the means to an end for the third-seeded Pack, which has lost only to Hawai'i since falling at Rice in September. As soon as the Owls hit the antenna on match point last night, Salaia Salave'a — whose 20 kills and 17 digs were integral for Nevada— said she had Hawai'i, and "a surprise" on her mind.
Today, the collegiate volleyball world will see if the Wolf Pack (20-7) is for real. Or if the still unbeaten and now second-ranked Rainbow Wahine (25-0) — probably on the eve of rising to No. 1 — can run the WAC table a sixth straight year.
The Wolf Pack admitted to an "absolute hunger" for Hawai'i after last Saturday. It is just as young and surprising as the 'Bows in its own way, with a wave of relentless hitters and defenders. But while it has come close, Nevada has not proved it can beat the 'Bows. That is a huge gap.
"We certainly want it very, very badly," Scruggs said. "We absolutely respect them and I feel like we've gained their respect in the last two matches as well."
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
