Post by 808 on Oct 10, 2004 10:59:44 GMT -5
Wahine looking for workout
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com
It was a pleasant day to be on the golf course and Dave Shoji took advantage of a rare free Saturday afternoon during the season. The Hawaii volleyball coach was playing well -- 1 under after three -- in starting his round at Oahu Country Club.
Sub-par is a good thing in golf, not in volleyball. But Shoji's Rainbow Wahine have been anything but sub-par this season.
This is not to say that fourth-ranked Hawaii, with a perfect 13-0 record, is playing perfectly. To a player, the Wahine say they need to work hard and get better every match.
Hawaii gets another shot today at 4 p.m. when taking on a struggling, injured Texas-El Paso team. The Miners (6-8) are still looking for their first Western Athletic Conference victory after five matches, as well as looking to end a WAC losing streak of seven, dating back to last year.
Conversely, the Wahine have won 81 straight regular-season WAC matches, 93 in a row counting the WAC tournament. They haven't lost to an unranked team in seven years, a winning streak of 185.
None of those should be in jeopardy today. Expect it to be quick but long enough for Hawaii to again use a lot of players.
"We're still more concerned with our side of the net," said Shoji, who picked up career win No. 853 Friday against Boise State. "We'd like to look at a lot of people again.
"We need to crank it up. I liked our energy at practice today. It was very spirited."
Nearly midway through the season, Hawaii needs to start thinking about the playoffs. The young Wahine have exceeded expectations with some impressive wins over ranked opponents, as well as going 4-0 in five-game matches.
Boise State coach Scott Sandel has now seen Nos. 1 (Washington) and 4 (Hawaii). After his Broncos lost Friday, he said there is no comparison in the level of play.
"Washington is at a different level," he said of the Huskies, who swept the Broncos on Sept. 18. "The Washington team we saw was the best team I've seen in my three years at Boise. They're even better than the Hawaii team last year.
"Washington is relentless; they keep attacking you. Hawaii is young, and that means they're going to spurt. But the good news for the Hawaii fans is a young team having this kind of success has got to be a great sign. They're only going to get better."
That's what UTEP coach Scott Swanson can only hope for his team. The Miners started the year with just 11 roster players, including five freshmen and two sophomores; due to injuries, only eight played in Thursday's loss at San Jose State.
The biggest blow came in the Sept. 17 victory over Weber State when freshman libero Brittany Stowers sprained her knee. She has missed the last eight matches.
Stowers set a school record with 36 digs in a victory over North Texas. It was the fourth-best effort in NCAA history for a three-game match.
Prior to the season, Swanson had thoughts that UTEP would make it to next month's conference tournament in the school's final year in the WAC. But the season has gone pretty much the way of the opener against South Dakota State: the Miners led 6-0 and 12-6 in Game 5, only to lose it when the Jackrabbits scored nine straight points to win 15-12.
Hawaii should again be able to take advantage of a height advantage. The Miners' tallest players are 6-footers Ashley Ripple, a sophomore middle, and Christie Murphy, a freshman opposite.
"I don't think our team will get complacent or overconfident," Shoji said. "Looking at game films, we always find things that need improvement."
"We don't overlook anyone," junior hitter Susie Boogaard said after Friday's win. "Every team we see wants to be us. We're ranked. It gives them incentive.
"But we need to keep improving our game. That's our challenge as a team and as players, to play hard and work hard every game."
Wahine Volleyball
Who: UTEP (6-8, 0-5) at No. 4 Hawaii (13-0, 3-0).
When: 4 p.m. today
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Radio: Live, KKEA (1420-AM)
TV: Live, KFVE (Ch. 5)
Tickets: $3-14.
Series: UH leads, 9-0.
starbulletin.com/2004/10/10/sports/story5.html#
That's an interesting assessment of the Wahine (in comparison to Washington) by Sandel. Glad to hear the comparison. He makes Washington sound scary.
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com
It was a pleasant day to be on the golf course and Dave Shoji took advantage of a rare free Saturday afternoon during the season. The Hawaii volleyball coach was playing well -- 1 under after three -- in starting his round at Oahu Country Club.
Sub-par is a good thing in golf, not in volleyball. But Shoji's Rainbow Wahine have been anything but sub-par this season.
This is not to say that fourth-ranked Hawaii, with a perfect 13-0 record, is playing perfectly. To a player, the Wahine say they need to work hard and get better every match.
Hawaii gets another shot today at 4 p.m. when taking on a struggling, injured Texas-El Paso team. The Miners (6-8) are still looking for their first Western Athletic Conference victory after five matches, as well as looking to end a WAC losing streak of seven, dating back to last year.
Conversely, the Wahine have won 81 straight regular-season WAC matches, 93 in a row counting the WAC tournament. They haven't lost to an unranked team in seven years, a winning streak of 185.
None of those should be in jeopardy today. Expect it to be quick but long enough for Hawaii to again use a lot of players.
"We're still more concerned with our side of the net," said Shoji, who picked up career win No. 853 Friday against Boise State. "We'd like to look at a lot of people again.
"We need to crank it up. I liked our energy at practice today. It was very spirited."
Nearly midway through the season, Hawaii needs to start thinking about the playoffs. The young Wahine have exceeded expectations with some impressive wins over ranked opponents, as well as going 4-0 in five-game matches.
Boise State coach Scott Sandel has now seen Nos. 1 (Washington) and 4 (Hawaii). After his Broncos lost Friday, he said there is no comparison in the level of play.
"Washington is at a different level," he said of the Huskies, who swept the Broncos on Sept. 18. "The Washington team we saw was the best team I've seen in my three years at Boise. They're even better than the Hawaii team last year.
"Washington is relentless; they keep attacking you. Hawaii is young, and that means they're going to spurt. But the good news for the Hawaii fans is a young team having this kind of success has got to be a great sign. They're only going to get better."
That's what UTEP coach Scott Swanson can only hope for his team. The Miners started the year with just 11 roster players, including five freshmen and two sophomores; due to injuries, only eight played in Thursday's loss at San Jose State.
The biggest blow came in the Sept. 17 victory over Weber State when freshman libero Brittany Stowers sprained her knee. She has missed the last eight matches.
Stowers set a school record with 36 digs in a victory over North Texas. It was the fourth-best effort in NCAA history for a three-game match.
Prior to the season, Swanson had thoughts that UTEP would make it to next month's conference tournament in the school's final year in the WAC. But the season has gone pretty much the way of the opener against South Dakota State: the Miners led 6-0 and 12-6 in Game 5, only to lose it when the Jackrabbits scored nine straight points to win 15-12.
Hawaii should again be able to take advantage of a height advantage. The Miners' tallest players are 6-footers Ashley Ripple, a sophomore middle, and Christie Murphy, a freshman opposite.
"I don't think our team will get complacent or overconfident," Shoji said. "Looking at game films, we always find things that need improvement."
"We don't overlook anyone," junior hitter Susie Boogaard said after Friday's win. "Every team we see wants to be us. We're ranked. It gives them incentive.
"But we need to keep improving our game. That's our challenge as a team and as players, to play hard and work hard every game."
Wahine Volleyball
Who: UTEP (6-8, 0-5) at No. 4 Hawaii (13-0, 3-0).
When: 4 p.m. today
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Radio: Live, KKEA (1420-AM)
TV: Live, KFVE (Ch. 5)
Tickets: $3-14.
Series: UH leads, 9-0.
starbulletin.com/2004/10/10/sports/story5.html#
That's an interesting assessment of the Wahine (in comparison to Washington) by Sandel. Glad to hear the comparison. He makes Washington sound scary.
