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Wahine know their game needs a boost
Hawaii must pass and set better if it hopes to send its seniors out in style
STORY SUMMARY | READ THE FULL STORYNo one does senior night like Hawaii.
Tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center will be no different for women's volleyball.
There won't be a halau dancing hula, as happened in 2006 to honor All-America setter Kanoe Kamana'o. But the postmatch festivities are guaranteed to be special for the four Rainbow Wahine seniors playing their final home match: Tara Hittle, Jamie Houston, Jessica Keefe and Nickie Thomas.
Given the economy and the NCAA's recent reluctance to send three teams to Honolulu for the tournament's first and second rounds, tonight's match is likely the final home appearance for No. 6 Hawaii. The Wahine put their 14-match winning streak on the line against Cal Poly.
Hawaii has been relatively successful on the designated senior night since the arena opened in 1994, going 13-1. The losses came in 2002 to Stanford.
— Cindy Luis
FULL STORY >>
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 28, 2008
Senior night isn't about saying goodbye. Not according to Dave Shoji.
CAL POLY (16-12) AT NO. 6 HAWAII (27-3)When: 7 p.m. todayTV: KFVE Radio: KKEA 1420-AM Tickets: $3-$17
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Tonight's rematch with Cal Poly is the last regular-season appearance in the Stan Sheriff Center for the Rainbow Wahine's recruiting class of 2004 -- Tara Hittle, Jessica Keefe and Nickie Thomas -- and Jamie Houston, who has played in all but two matches since arriving in 2005.
"I'm happy for them, happy to seem them move on and go to the next phase of their lives," said Shoji, in his 34th year at Manoa. "It's not sad for me at all.
"It will be weird to be without these four. They've been around for a long time. I'm going to miss having them in the gym, just having them around."
Tonight, the arena air will be heavy with floral perfume. Family, friends and fans will bury the Hawaii quartet under dozens of leis.
And, in an "only in Hawaii" event, Cal Poly's three seniors also will be recognized. Among them is senior opposite Kylie Atherstone, the first Mustang -- and fifth in the Big West -- to be named first team All-Big West for all four seasons.
Atherstone nearly buried Hawaii on Wednesday night with her lethal left arm. She had 15 kills and five of Cal Poly's 11 aces in the 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-13 loss to Hawaii.
"We had a lot to play for tonight, with all the families here for senior night," sophomore defensive specialist Elizabeth Ka'aihue after Wednesday's victory.
The same can be said for tonight's contest. Cal Poly, (16-12), which finished third in the Big West, may need a win tonight to get into the NCAA tournament. Hawaii (27-3), which already earned a spot by winning the Western Athletic Conference tournament, is playing for seeding.
For the Wahine to beat the Mustangs tonight, they'll need to have more consistent setting. Ditto for the serve-receive; Cal Poly's 11 aces were the most against Hawaii this season.
"The setting was a bit off," Shoji said. "We were never in sync. They forced us into our worst passing night this season. We were out of rhythm most of the match.
"The setting WILL be better. The only thing I liked (Wednesday) was the scoreboard."
Not quite. Shoji liked the effort from Thomas, who had a career-high 11 blocks to go with nine kills.
"Nickie continues to get better," Shoji said. "She's a smart player."
Sophomore setter Dani Mafua (hamstring) saw some action Wednesday, getting into two sets, but her lack of practice time since she was injured on Nov. 15 was apparent. Junior setter Stephanie Brandt has run the offense since Mafua was hurt.
Besides doing a better job on Atherstone -- who had 11 kills in the first three sets -- Hawaii will need to slow down Cal Poly's two first-team Big West middles. Senior Jaclyn Houston had 15 kills and sophomore Dominique Olowolafe had nine of her 13 kills in the final three sets.
The Wahine saw one impressive streak ended by the Mustangs on Wednesday. Hawaii had held its prior seven opponents to under .100 hitting percentage; Cal Poly hit .133.
Hawaii hit .196, well off its .296 that ranked fourth nationally coming into the week.
Senior night isn't about saying goodbye. Not according to Dave Shoji.
CAL POLY (16-12) AT NO. 6 HAWAII (27-3)When: 7 p.m. todayTV: KFVE Radio: KKEA 1420-AM Tickets: $3-$17 |
Tonight's rematch with Cal Poly is the last regular-season appearance in the Stan Sheriff Center for the Rainbow Wahine's recruiting class of 2004 -- Tara Hittle, Jessica Keefe and Nickie Thomas -- and Jamie Houston, who has played in all but two matches since arriving in 2005.
"I'm happy for them, happy to seem them move on and go to the next phase of their lives," said Shoji, in his 34th year at Manoa. "It's not sad for me at all.
"It will be weird to be without these four. They've been around for a long time. I'm going to miss having them in the gym, just having them around."
Tonight, the arena air will be heavy with floral perfume. Family, friends and fans will bury the Hawaii quartet under dozens of leis.
And, in an "only in Hawaii" event, Cal Poly's three seniors also will be recognized. Among them is senior opposite Kylie Atherstone, the first Mustang -- and fifth in the Big West -- to be named first team All-Big West for all four seasons.
Atherstone nearly buried Hawaii on Wednesday night with her lethal left arm. She had 15 kills and five of Cal Poly's 11 aces in the 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-13 loss to Hawaii.
"We had a lot to play for tonight, with all the families here for senior night," sophomore defensive specialist Elizabeth Ka'aihue after Wednesday's victory.
The same can be said for tonight's contest. Cal Poly, (16-12), which finished third in the Big West, may need a win tonight to get into the NCAA tournament. Hawaii (27-3), which already earned a spot by winning the Western Athletic Conference tournament, is playing for seeding.
For the Wahine to beat the Mustangs tonight, they'll need to have more consistent setting. Ditto for the serve-receive; Cal Poly's 11 aces were the most against Hawaii this season.
"The setting was a bit off," Shoji said. "We were never in sync. They forced us into our worst passing night this season. We were out of rhythm most of the match.
"The setting WILL be better. The only thing I liked (Wednesday) was the scoreboard."
Not quite. Shoji liked the effort from Thomas, who had a career-high 11 blocks to go with nine kills.
"Nickie continues to get better," Shoji said. "She's a smart player."
Sophomore setter Dani Mafua (hamstring) saw some action Wednesday, getting into two sets, but her lack of practice time since she was injured on Nov. 15 was apparent. Junior setter Stephanie Brandt has run the offense since Mafua was hurt.
Besides doing a better job on Atherstone -- who had 11 kills in the first three sets -- Hawaii will need to slow down Cal Poly's two first-team Big West middles. Senior Jaclyn Houston had 15 kills and sophomore Dominique Olowolafe had nine of her 13 kills in the final three sets.
The Wahine saw one impressive streak ended by the Mustangs on Wednesday. Hawaii had held its prior seven opponents to under .100 hitting percentage; Cal Poly hit .133.
Hawaii hit .196, well off its .296 that ranked fourth nationally coming into the week.
Today’s Edition
- Troubled bridges over island waters
- Man shot in police encounter
- 70 U.S. Army reservists receive warrior citizen awards
- Family raises $66,000 for son's liver surgery
- Ocean Watch: A love of fish catches new friends, families
- Island Images
- Newswatch
- Police and Fire
- Trader with a taste for risk fishes for tuna from a kayak
- Deal will turn a hospital private, with goal of efficiency
- Readers asked to share holiday horrors
- Easing holiday stress
- It's About Time: An annual reality check can help you reorganize
- Da Kine
- Pet Ohana
- Got nutrients?
- Wahine dominate All-WAC honors
- Hawaii starts defense of its WAC tourney title tomorrow
- Crucial homestand for chance at bowl
- Five big plays from Hawaii's 17-10 victory
- Further Review: Streak means nothing with 8-3 Navy heading in
- Garcia advances at Reef Hawaiian Pro
- Hawaii Beat
- Scoreboard
- Television & Radio
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