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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, November 17, 2009

'Bows finish off Utah St. in four


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kanani Danielson

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Aneli Cubi-Otineru

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Kanani Danielson and Aneli Cubi-Otineru had career nights to lift third-ranked Hawai'i to its 10th perfect regular season in Western Athletic Conference volleyball.

The Rainbow Wahine spiked Utah State, 25-19, 22-25, 25-19, 25-13, last night at Smith Spectrum, in Logan. The 'Bows (26-2, 16-0) have won 22 in a row going into the WAC Tournament, which starts Monday in Las Vegas.

UH has a bye in the opening round and opens in Tuesday's semifinals against the winner of Monday's match between the fourth and fifth seeds. Hawai'i has won the last 11 WAC championships.

Last night the 'Bows had little balance, no aces and were out-blocked nearly 2-to-1 by the Aggies (14-14, 5-10), who probably won't make the WAC Tournament. It didn't matter because Danielson, a sophomore All-American, and Cubi-Otineru, an all-WAC senior, shredded USU's block.

Danielson shattered her career high with 32 kills — 10 more than her previous best and the highest number by a Rainbow Wahine since 2006. She also hit .446, getting eight kills in each of the first two sets and 10 in the statement-making third.

"We had a rough start on the first couple balls I sent out to her," said UH setter Dani Mafua. "But then she (Danielson) started getting on it quick and they couldn't stop her. The more I set her, the more she got into a rhythm. Then I knew she was on tonight. Even when they put up two blockers she put the ball down.

"She helped revive us (after the second set). She definitely kicks it in a different gear and takes over. We always call her a beast. Some of the things she does are unheard of. She's all over the court, doing everything and the intensity she plays with rubs off. She helps us play better."

Cubi-Otineru hit .462 — another extraordinary percentage for an under-sized hitter — and buried four of Hawai'i's last five kills to tie her career high with 22. She also collected her third double-double of the season with 11 digs.

"They both just saw the block really well tonight," said UH coach Dave Shoji. "They were blocking us, but they didn't block them so it's just a matter of hitting smart and bringing a lot of velocity."

The 'Bows broke away early in the opening set, scoring seven in a row on Stephanie Brandt's serve. But it was USU that broke away in the second, becoming only the third WAC team to take a set off UH.

Hawai'i did not give Utah State another chance. UH blew to a 12-7 lead in Set 3. The Rainbows scored eight of the first 10 points in Set 4, when they outhit USU, .368 to .067.

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