Hawaii @ UCI 1/14/07 (Night #2) - Hawaii Star Bulletin Article

For original story visit http://starbulletin.com/2007/01/14/sports/story07.html

WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL

No. 1 UC Irvine ices Hawaii again in 3

From staff and wire reports
sports@starbulletin.com

IRVINE, Calif. » A freeze warning was issued for Orange County last night, with temperatures expected in the low 20s all the way to the coast.

At least that is warmer than what the fourth-ranked Hawaii volleyball team managed when being swept for a second night by No. 1 UC Irvine. The Warriors hit a chilly 17 percent in losing the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match to the Anteaters 30-20, 30-22, 30-27 in the Bren Events Center.

A crowd of 2,140 saw UCI improve to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the MPSF after 85 minutes. Senior opposite Matt Webber led the Anteaters with 15 kills and 11 digs, and reigning national player of the year Jayson Jablonsky added 12.

Sophomore Jim Clar, making his first career start, led Hawaii (0-2, 0-2) with 11 kills as a right-side hitter, and senior Lauri Hakala, who had an All-American season last year as a right-side hitter, added 10 kills but hit just .053 in his new position on the left. Freshman hitter Matt Vanzant also had 10 kills in two games as coach Mike Wilton continues to search for a lineup.

"Even though we lost, I'm pretty enthused about this team," Wilton said. "We played a very experienced team tonight, a team that played even better than last night. They certainly served a lot better (than Friday).

"If the games were played to 20, we were in good shape. But we started making errors towards the end and self-destructed a bit."

UC Irvine had six service aces -- three by Jablonsky -- to Hawaii's zero. Warriors senior hitter Eric Kalima moved from outside to libero for the final two games and stabilized his team's shaky passing.

Conversely, the Anteaters' passing was solid, according to their coach John Speraw. UCI again won the dig battle, 37-34, with All-American libero Brent Asuka (Iolani '05) coming up with eight.

"We ball-controlled really well," Speraw said. "When we're passing well, we play well, can run our offense.

"I thought Hawaii did a good job at slowing down our middles but our outside guys really stepped it up at the pins (on the outside)."

As happened Friday, Hawaii stayed close in Game 1 but, at 7-7, the Anteaters went on an 8-2 run to take control. The Warriors pulled to 19-15 only to see UCI pull away, finishing it when Jablonsky and Aaron Harrell blocked Warriors freshman middle Matt Rawson.

Hawaii hung tough in Game 2, trailing just 22-20. But the Anteaters hung tougher, capping an 8-2 run with David Smith's ace to take a 2-0 lead.

The Warriors led 11-7 in Game 3 only to have the Anteaters go ahead at 12-11. It was tied 10 times, the last at 22-all, but UCI used a varied offense -- helped by kills from four different players -- to finish it off.

"For sure we feel good about tonight," Speraw said, "but the truth is we all understand that it's early. And our guys understand how good Hawaii will be at the end of the year.

"We know we have to get better because Hawaii has the potential to be great when it matters."

The Warriors returned home today and will be back in the practice gym tomorrow. Hawaii hosts Pacific on Thursday and Friday.

"We're still a work in progress," Wilton said. "It's a good work and we've made some progress."