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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 23, 2009

Rainbow Wahine sweep past BYU-Hawai‘i


Advertiser Staff

Third-ranked Hawai‘i took a break from the Western Athletic Conference this week, but not from overwhelming volleyball opponents. Brigham Young-Hawai‘i got the WAC treatment tonight.

The Rainbow Wahine (18-2) ran their winning streak to 14 with a 25-14, 25-11, 25-17, victory over their cross-island Division II opponents.
The Seasiders (13-11) had nothing to be ashamed of. Aside from New Mexico State, which has taken the only two sets off the ‘Bows during this streak, WAC teams are losing to UH by an average score of 25-14.
A Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 5,201 watched the Rainbows play in pink uniforms and with pink volleyballs in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
When it was over, the alumnae returned to the court for a formal celebration honoring UH coach Dave Shoji’s 1,000th victory last week. Shoji is 1,002-175 -1 in his 35th season.
Hawai‘i buried seven of its first eight swings in the match, bolting to a 15-6 advantage before the Seasiders put two points together. UH sophomore Stephanie Ferrell never cooled, going 5-for-6 in the opening set as the ‘Bows hit .613 to BYU-Hawai‘i’s .136.
UH flexed its Division I muscle all night, but only truly squashed the Seasiders in Set 2. BYUH had but two kills, hit negative .160 and got six gift points on missed serves.
That set ended with Losaline Faka‘osi diving in vain into the courtside table for a dig, turning over with a groan, then grinning and jumping back on the court.
Faka‘osi, a sophomore from Salt Lake City, led the Seasiders with six kills and 11 digs. Kanani Danielson was the only Hawai‘i attacker to play all three sets and finished with 11 kills. Ferrell added 10. Alexis Forsythe was in on five of UH’s eight stuffs.
BYUH beat Hawai‘i in 1992 and took the ‘Bows to five in their last meeting 11 years ago — just after capturing its eighth NAIA national title and before winning two NCAA DI national championships. UH leads the series 11-1.