After the Bears split a pair of matches in her absence, she returned in time for their meeting with St. Anthony last night at War Memorial Gym.

The Bears, who had already nailed down second place in the Maui Interscholastic League Division I race, finished the regular season with a 25-19, 25-20, 26-24 win over the Trojans behind 27 assists and two blocks by Laskovics.

''It was really good to be back,'' Laskovics said to The Maui News. ''I haven't played in a while and I was a little rusty, but it went well. They were glad to have me back.''

Laskovics was able to run the Baldwin offense that sputtered in a four-game loss to King Kekaulike and a win over Ka'ahumanu Hou in her absence.

''I feel pretty good about my leader position on the team,'' she said. ''They were kind of lost without me, so I am glad to be back.''

That was a sentiment echoed by Baldwin coach Kauila Houpo, who saw his team finish the regular season 6-4.

''This was big for us to get the ball rolling for the tournament,'' Houpo said. ''We had kind of some bad games earlier. It was nice to have my setter back, too. She was gone all last week, so we missed her in the King Kekaulike game and the Ka'ahumanu Hou game. The girls are lost without her out there. Her leadership is very big for us. It is nice to have her back.''

With Laskovics running the show, the Bears were able to go to Iesha Leota and the Satele sisters — Kathy and Tupusa. Leota finished with 10 kills and three aces, Kathy Satele had eight kills and two aces and Tupusa Satele had six kills.

The balanced attack was enough to overcome the Trojans (4-5), who got 13 kills and four aces from Kawehi Romero, 15 digs from Rosie-Lani Ruff and 12 kills from Malialani Chang.

In the first game, St. Anthony held a 10-6 lead after an ace by Romero, but the Bears went on a 7-1 run and remained in front.

Baldwin scored seven straight points to break away from a 5-5 tie in the second game. A double block by Nichol Bundy and and Toni Kalama brought the Trojans within 18-15, but they would get no closer.

In the final game, St. Anthony took a 24-23 lead on the final kill of the night by Romero, but successive kills by Leota and Kathy Satele gave Baldwin match point and an error by the Trojans ended the match.

''We are playing some tough teams, everybody is starting to gear it up for the tournament,'' said St. Anthony coach Albert Paschoal. ''A couple mental breakdowns here and there, it's tough. Baldwin has a great setter. They are dynamic on the net.

''When I saw Liz tonight at the captains' meeting, I said, 'Shucks, I wish you didn't come back.' She is the quarterback of that team. She is a solid, consistent setter and that is all those girls need.''