Hawai'i sweeps Boise State
Advertiser Staff
Victoria Prince tallied a team-high 13 kills and eight blocks as the 11th-ranked University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team beat host Boise State, 30-27, 30-21, 30-20, yesterday to remain undefeated in the Western Athletic Conference.
Conference-leader Hawai'i won its seventh consecutive match and improved to 13-6 overall and 7-0 in the WAC. Boise State dropped to 4-10 and 0-7.
"We had a little slow start," Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji said. "We played a little unevenly the first game, but we steadied out and finished strong."
Sarah Mason added 11 kills, Juliana Sanders nine and Tara Hittle eight as the Rainbow Wahine extended their WAC win streak to 113. Kanoe Kamana'o recorded a match-high 46 assists, and Susie Boogaard added 10 digs.
Boise State's Cameron Flunder had a match-high 16 kills and Jeanette Jenkins 10.
"I think we're starting to play better," Shoji said. "I just wanted to establish that on the road again."
In Game 1, Hawai'i sprinted to a 14-5 lead, but Boise State closed to 24-23. A block by Prince capped a 3-0 Hawai'i run for a 27-23 lead. The Rainbow Wahine held their lead and won the game on a Bronco hitting error.
Hawai'i hurt itself with five service errors in the first game. It was also tormented by Jenkins, who had four kills in the game.
"I thought one of their outsides (Jenkins) was hitting well and Flunder was having a good match, too," Shoji said. "They were getting some kills off transition. And we helped them out with some serving errors, too."
The Rainbow Wahine regrouped in Game 2. Leading 9-8, Hawai'i engineered a 6-1 run to take a 15-9 lead. Hawai'i pushed its lead to 21-13 and was never threatened the rest of the game. Prince had five kills in Game 2.
In Game 3, a double block by Boogaard and Prince sparked a 5-0 run that gave Hawai'i a 21-14 lead. During the surge, Boogaard served four consecutive points. Boise State got no closer than six points the rest of the game.
Shoji used all 12 players yesterday.
The Rainbow Wahine host WAC opponents Utah State on Thursday and San Jose State on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"Utah State is playing well, even though they had a loss to Fresno State," Shoji said. "They played New Mexico State pretty tough. We have to get ready for them."