Wahine remain unbeaten with sweep of San Francisco

[kolohekeiki]

Despite a sluggish start, Coach Shoji was able to clear his bench in a sweep of the University of San Francisco 25-14, 27-25, 25-19.

Emily Hartong led the Wahine with 14 kills, eight digs and five aces as the Wahine showed some sluggish play throughout the match. Junior transfer Ashley Kastl started for the Wahine for Jane Croson. Croson stayed out of practice yesterday and sat out the first set today due to illness. Kastl stepped right in for Croson and picked up two kills in the first set. The Wahine cruised to victory in the first set.

The second set was more of a challenge as USF's relentless defense kept Wahine attacks off the floor, frustrating some of the Wahine attackers. Redshirt freshman Jade Vorster continued her hot hand as she put down 12 kills for the Wahine. In the second set the Wahine took an early lead at 5-2, but USF quickly caught the Wahine as the traded points. The Wahine once again found some separation going up 11-7 on two kills by Hartong. The lead was short lived though as USF clawed back catching the Wahine at 14 and then taking their first lead at 15-14 on a service ace. The Dons would stretch their lead to 19-16 and then 20-17 on kills by Malina Terrell and Jocelyn Levig. The Wahine pulled to 21-20 on a kill by Kaela Goodman, but Vorster committed her first hitting error in three matches and let USF go back up 22-20. Ashley Kastl would pick up a clutch kill to tie the score at 23. The two teams just traded points until two kills by Croson and a kill by Hartong ended the set in the favor of the Wahine 27-25.

Both teams traded points until USF took a 9-6 lead in set three. Two kills by setter Mita Uiato and an ace by Jane Croson tied the score up at 9. Levig put down a kill to give USF the lead again at 10-9. USF would keep their slim lead until two kills by Hartong and a ballhandling error by USF put the Wahine up 14-12. The Wahine would not relinquish the lead as Vorster and Croson both picked up couple kills as the Wahine lead extended to 20-14. Up 22-15, the played several loose points committing couple errors letting USF crawl back to within 22-18. Shoji then inserted redshirt freshman Ginger Long into the match. Goodman and Long both picked up a kill to get the Wahine to match point. A Don's error closed out the match for the Wahine.

With the win the Wahine improve their record to 4-0 and they'll meet Baylor tomorrow night, who upset 25th ranked California in straight sets in the first match of the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic.

[niterunner808]