Rainbow Wahine volleyball team starts home stretch vs. SJSU

Oscar Crespo doesn't know what to expect ... other than No. 9 Hawaii will be a formidable opponent for his San Jose State volleyball team tomorrow.

STAR-BULLETIN / 2007

Amber Kaufman squared off against SJSU’s Brianna Amian a former Moanalua standout, last season.

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Oscar Crespo doesn't know what to expect ... other than No. 9 Hawaii will be a formidable opponent for his San Jose State volleyball team tomorrow.

That's when Hawaii substituted Stephanie Brandt for an ailing Dani Mafua at setter; still had freshman hitter Kanani Herring (ankle sprain) only playing back row; and had senior Tara Hittle moving from libero to outside hitter, the latter position at which she was the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of 2004.

San Jose State (9-11, 4-5 WAC) will also face a Stan Sheriff Center crowd that left disappointed and disgruntled when Hawaii (15-3, 8-1) last played at home on Oct. 12. The Wahine were swept in stunning fashion by New Mexico State, when UH was held to what is believed to be a program-low .023 hitting percentage.

The Aggies hold the tiebreaker if the teams were to be tied for the top seed in next month's WAC tournament.

Both Crespo and Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said the seedings don't matter. It's all about the next match.

"It's still all about what's happening on our side of the net," said Crespo, in his second year with the Spartans. "To beat Hawaii, it all lies on our side. We have the ability, but it will depend on how well we pass, how we are on serve-receive.

"It depends on how we put it together. We've done it a couple of times. We would need to take (the Wahine) out of their rhythm."

Hawaii has rebounded from the shocking home loss to New Mexico State with road sweeps at Utah State and Nevada.

"Certainly our team has gotten back on track (since NMSU)," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "Maybe we took things for granted. We know we are vulnerable.

"We just need to take care of business. We are practicing hard, trying to get better every day."

So, too, are the Spartans. San Jose State features two Hawaii prep products in junior libero Krystal Tsukano (3.68 dpg) from Kamehameha ('06) and sophomore hitter Brianna Amian (Moanalua '07).

"Both are playing well on both the left and the right," Crespo said. "And Krystal continues to anchor the defense, our serve-receive. I love her ability."

Crespo said he'll continue to recruit in Hawaii and has oral commitments from two Kamehameha products: senior setter Caitlin Andrade and senior middle Alex Akana.

"We recruit (in Hawaii) because the players know the game, have a high volleyball IQ," Crespo said. "Players like Krystal ... they grew up embracing the sport."

As for Hawaii recruiting, the Wahine have one scholarship to give. That has apparently gone to Kristiana Tuaniga, a senior 6-foot-2 middle/hitter at Carson (Calif.) High, who is the cousin of current UH freshman hitter Gus Tuaniga.

The Wahine have also received an oral commitment from junior Kaela Goodman, an outside hitter from Mission Viejo (Calif.) High. She also plays for the Laguna Beach Volleyball Club, which junior setter Brandt also plays for. When the Spartans last saw the Rainbow Wahine on Sept. 29, they ended up on the losing end of a 25-17, 25-20, 25-20 87-minute match at Spartan Gymnasium.

That's when Hawaii substituted Stephanie Brandt for an ailing Dani Mafua at setter; still had freshman hitter Kanani Herring (ankle sprain) only playing back row; and had senior Tara Hittle moving from libero to outside hitter, the latter position at which she was the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of 2004.

San Jose State (9-11, 4-5 WAC) will also face a Stan Sheriff Center crowd that left disappointed and disgruntled when Hawaii (15-3, 8-1) last played at home on Oct. 12. The Wahine were swept in stunning fashion by New Mexico State, when UH was held to what is believed to be a program-low .023 hitting percentage.

The Aggies hold the tiebreaker if the teams were to be tied for the top seed in next month's WAC tournament.

Both Crespo and Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said the seedings don't matter. It's all about the next match.

"It's still all about what's happening on our side of the net," said Crespo, in his second year with the Spartans. "To beat Hawaii, it all lies on our side. We have the ability, but it will depend on how well we pass, how we are on serve-receive.

"It depends on how we put it together. We've done it a couple of times. We would need to take (the Wahine) out of their rhythm."

Hawaii has rebounded from the shocking home loss to New Mexico State with road sweeps at Utah State and Nevada.

"Certainly our team has gotten back on track (since NMSU)," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "Maybe we took things for granted. We know we are vulnerable.

"We just need to take care of business. We are practicing hard, trying to get better every day."

So, too, are the Spartans. San Jose State features two Hawaii prep products in junior libero Krystal Tsukano (3.68 dpg) from Kamehameha ('06) and sophomore hitter Brianna Amian (Moanalua '07).

"Both are playing well on both the left and the right," Crespo said. "And Krystal continues to anchor the defense, our serve-receive. I love her ability."

Crespo said he'll continue to recruit in Hawaii and has oral commitments from two Kamehameha products: senior setter Caitlin Andrade and senior middle Alex Akana.

"We recruit (in Hawaii) because the players know the game, have a high volleyball IQ," Crespo said. "Players like Krystal ... they grew up embracing the sport."

As for Hawaii recruiting, the Wahine have one scholarship to give. That has apparently gone to Kristiana Tuaniga, a senior 6-foot-2 middle/hitter at Carson (Calif.) High, who is the cousin of current UH freshman hitter Gus Tuaniga.

The Wahine have also received an oral commitment from junior Kaela Goodman, an outside hitter from Mission Viejo (Calif.) High. She also plays for the Laguna Beach Volleyball Club, which junior setter Brandt also plays for.