Post by bigfan on Nov 22, 2005 10:33:09 GMT -5
Rainbow Wahine volleyball closes out NMSU
By Magdiel Vilchez
Ka Leo Staff Writer
Senior Libero Ashley Watanabe dives to save a shot against New Mexico State at the Stan Sheriff Thursday. The Rainbows narrowly escaped the Aggies in five games and preserving their 106-game WAC winning streak.
With only two regular season home games remaining entering last week for the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, the Rainbow Wahine took home a victory in a thrilling 5-game match against the New Mexico State Aggies.
A packed crowd of 5,222, including 55 members of senior outside hitter Susie Boogaard's family, watched as the Rainbow Wahine held onto their 106 match winning streak against Western Athletic Conference opponents.
The last time the two teams faced off in New Mexico, the Aggies gave the Rainbow Wahine a scare, UH won in five games after losing the first two matches.
"We came into this game knowing this team was going to compete really hard. We came out strong," said junior setter Kanoe Kamana'o. "Going to five games with them at their place it kind of gave us the motivation to pick up the intensity and to get on them and not let them come back on us."
The Aggies hung with the Rainbow Wahine, allowing only a 2-3 point lead between them and the 9th ranked WAC champs. However, a 6 point run, fueled by Boogaard, put the 'Bows up 9 points at 20-11. The Rainbow Wahine extended their lead and nabbed Game 1 with a block by Kanoe Kamana'o and sophomore middle Juliana Sanders at 30-19. The 'Bows hit a .310 attacking percentage and limited the Aggies to a .085 attacking percentage.
In game two the Rainbow Wahine kept their momentum and took the game at 30-26 with a kill by freshman hitter Jamie Houston. However, the 'Bows may have celebrated too early.
Aggie middle Alice Borden led the charge in game three when NMSU went on a 7-0 scoring run to take an early 9-3 lead. Borden scored 8 of her team-high 21 kills in game 3. "Their hitters got really hot and we just broke down in some areas," said Sanders.
Though the 'Bows were able to get back within striking distance at 26-24, NMSU battled back scoring four of the last five points to take game three at 30-25.
Though game four began with 4 ties up to 10-10, the NMSU duo of Borden and outside hitter Kim Oguh helped extend a three point lead at 13-10 to five at 24-19. Oguh scored eight of her 16 points in game four. "We were really slow and we were one step too late," Kamana'o said. "We had a hard time adjusting to their hit."
The 'Bows would not go away though. Houston stepped up for the Rainbow Wahine, puting the Bows within two points of the Aggies at 22-24.
"I just got mad and decided to swing as hard as I could," said Houston. Houston put down 8 of her career-high 25 kills in game four but it was not enough to stop the Aggie's momentum. Oguh's 16th kill sealed game four at 30-24 sending the match to a decisive game five.
With the match tied up 2-2, the Rainbow Wahine proved their experience and fearlessness in the clutch, demonstrating why they are the WAC champs. "Going into game five, we pretty much picked up the energy and the intensity that was out on the court," said Kamana'o. "It's the last game and you got to give it your all and got to give it your best and that's the only thing you can do."
Though the 'Bows took the early advantage at 7-6, NMSU fought back to take the lead at 12-11 off of Oguh's 18th and final kill. With the 'Bows down by one it was the sophomore Juliana Sanders' turn to step up. Sanders put down a crucial kill to tie the game at 12-12 and lift the entire Stan Sheriff Center crowd off its feet.
"We had to get a block," Sanders said. And they did, three of them. Sanders and Boogaard went up for three huge consecutive blocks on the Aggies's top hitter Borden to seal the game and match at 15-12.
"We were really concentrating on trying to getting a solid block on the outside and also in the middle," said Kamana'o. "In those last four (plays) Susie set the ball up in the right spot and Juliana closed and it was hard for the opponents outside hitters to hit around a well formed block."
"[the win] means a lot, especially for the seniors. It's the second to last game here at home and to play in front of this arena and this community, it just meant a lot," said Kamana'o.
By Magdiel Vilchez
Ka Leo Staff Writer
Senior Libero Ashley Watanabe dives to save a shot against New Mexico State at the Stan Sheriff Thursday. The Rainbows narrowly escaped the Aggies in five games and preserving their 106-game WAC winning streak.
With only two regular season home games remaining entering last week for the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, the Rainbow Wahine took home a victory in a thrilling 5-game match against the New Mexico State Aggies.
A packed crowd of 5,222, including 55 members of senior outside hitter Susie Boogaard's family, watched as the Rainbow Wahine held onto their 106 match winning streak against Western Athletic Conference opponents.
The last time the two teams faced off in New Mexico, the Aggies gave the Rainbow Wahine a scare, UH won in five games after losing the first two matches.
"We came into this game knowing this team was going to compete really hard. We came out strong," said junior setter Kanoe Kamana'o. "Going to five games with them at their place it kind of gave us the motivation to pick up the intensity and to get on them and not let them come back on us."
The Aggies hung with the Rainbow Wahine, allowing only a 2-3 point lead between them and the 9th ranked WAC champs. However, a 6 point run, fueled by Boogaard, put the 'Bows up 9 points at 20-11. The Rainbow Wahine extended their lead and nabbed Game 1 with a block by Kanoe Kamana'o and sophomore middle Juliana Sanders at 30-19. The 'Bows hit a .310 attacking percentage and limited the Aggies to a .085 attacking percentage.
In game two the Rainbow Wahine kept their momentum and took the game at 30-26 with a kill by freshman hitter Jamie Houston. However, the 'Bows may have celebrated too early.
Aggie middle Alice Borden led the charge in game three when NMSU went on a 7-0 scoring run to take an early 9-3 lead. Borden scored 8 of her team-high 21 kills in game 3. "Their hitters got really hot and we just broke down in some areas," said Sanders.
Though the 'Bows were able to get back within striking distance at 26-24, NMSU battled back scoring four of the last five points to take game three at 30-25.
Though game four began with 4 ties up to 10-10, the NMSU duo of Borden and outside hitter Kim Oguh helped extend a three point lead at 13-10 to five at 24-19. Oguh scored eight of her 16 points in game four. "We were really slow and we were one step too late," Kamana'o said. "We had a hard time adjusting to their hit."
The 'Bows would not go away though. Houston stepped up for the Rainbow Wahine, puting the Bows within two points of the Aggies at 22-24.
"I just got mad and decided to swing as hard as I could," said Houston. Houston put down 8 of her career-high 25 kills in game four but it was not enough to stop the Aggie's momentum. Oguh's 16th kill sealed game four at 30-24 sending the match to a decisive game five.
With the match tied up 2-2, the Rainbow Wahine proved their experience and fearlessness in the clutch, demonstrating why they are the WAC champs. "Going into game five, we pretty much picked up the energy and the intensity that was out on the court," said Kamana'o. "It's the last game and you got to give it your all and got to give it your best and that's the only thing you can do."
Though the 'Bows took the early advantage at 7-6, NMSU fought back to take the lead at 12-11 off of Oguh's 18th and final kill. With the 'Bows down by one it was the sophomore Juliana Sanders' turn to step up. Sanders put down a crucial kill to tie the game at 12-12 and lift the entire Stan Sheriff Center crowd off its feet.
"We had to get a block," Sanders said. And they did, three of them. Sanders and Boogaard went up for three huge consecutive blocks on the Aggies's top hitter Borden to seal the game and match at 15-12.
"We were really concentrating on trying to getting a solid block on the outside and also in the middle," said Kamana'o. "In those last four (plays) Susie set the ball up in the right spot and Juliana closed and it was hard for the opponents outside hitters to hit around a well formed block."
"[the win] means a lot, especially for the seniors. It's the second to last game here at home and to play in front of this arena and this community, it just meant a lot," said Kamana'o.