Transfer Prince helps UH rule WAC again
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
RENO, Nev. — After watching Victoria Prince obliterate pretty much every set she saw at this year's WAC Volleyball Tournament, there is a new theory about the best way to stop Hawai'i's junior transfer: Ignore her and hope she goes away, or wish she had never come over from the Pac-10.
"I wish she'd stayed at Washington State," Nevada coach Devin Scruggs said after another Prince performance — 16 kills, .577 hitting, 7 stuffs — helped Hawai'i soar over the Wolf Pack in yesterday's championship.
Prince
"Prince is the one that hurt us the most," Scruggs said. "She has such an amazing ability to hit the slide (play). We knew it was coming. We scouted them really well, too. But ... she's got a fast arm, jumps well, has very good vision. We'll probably take some of these tapes and teach our middles to watch her."
In the Rainbow Wahine's three tournament matches, she hit .653, with 49 kills and two errors all week. She was also in on 19 blocks.
But all Prince wanted to talk about was UH setter Kanoe Kamana'o — the best setter in the nation, along with the passers that make a middle attack possible and the peace she has found since moving to Manoa in July.
"Nothing I've ever been a part of in my life compares to what I'm a part of now on this team. It is unbelievable," said Prince, who transferred after her sophomore year at Washington State. "I can't even describe the chemistry we have and respect for each other, and the way we get along. It's the best thing I've ever been a part of and probably will be the best thing I've ever been a part of."
It is not as if no one knew about her coming into chilly Reno. Last week she was eighth in the nation in hitting (.405) and 16th in blocking (1.56 per game).
"Victoria goes without saying," UH coach Dave Shoji said, grinning at his gift from Kennewick, Wash. "She had a huge tournament. It's kind of expected now so I don't think it's any big deal, for me anyway.
"She's been money. If we had two of her we might be the No. 1 team in the country. We might be anyway, but she's just been more than we ever could have imagined."
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Most Valuable Player: Victoria Prince (Hawai'i)
Christianna Reneau (SJSU), Cameron Flunder (Boise), Tessa Kuykendall (Rice), Alicia Arnott (Hawai'i), Tristin Adams (Nevada), Karly Sipherd (Nevada), Kanoe Kamana'o (Hawai'i), Salaia Salave'a (Nevada), Ashley Watanabe (Hawai'i), Carly Sorensen (Nevada), Susie Boogaard (Hawai'i).
