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LET THE GAMES BEGIN ?“ There are six teams that will kickoff the 2005 season this week. No. 4 Hawai'i opens the season against preseason No. 1 Nebraska at the AVCA/NACWAA Volleyball Showcase. The Rainbow Wahine are making their fourth appearance in the Volleyball Showcase (previously called the State Farm?™s NACWAA Classic). Their previous three appearaces came in 1996, 2001 and 2003. Hawai'is has a 3-3 overall record in tournament play. In 1996, Hawai'i won the tournament, defeating Florida and Nebraska. In 2001, UH lost both matches, to Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Rainbow Wahine then hosted the NACWAA in 2003, defeating Kansas State before falling to eventual national champion Southern California in the final.
Utah State will begin the 2005 season in Tulsa, Okla., at the Hurricane Invitational hosted by Tulsa on Aug. 26-27. USU will open the tournament against Fordham, and will then face Lamar. The Aggies will play two more matches on Saturday against Texas-Pan American and host Tulsa.
Idaho opens at the AmeriHost Volleyball Invitational Aug. 26-27 in Athens, Ohio, hosted by Ohio. The Vandals will face Tennessee-Martin and West Virginia on Aug. 26 before facing host Ohio on Aug. 27.
Several other team are also in action, Louisiana Tech will host Baylor on Aug. 27. sNevada opens the season hosting BYU on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Virginia Street Gym in Reno. San Jose State will travel to UC Davis on Aug. 26.
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FACING NO. 1 ?“ The Rainbow Wahine have faced the No. 1 team in the AVCA Coaches Poll 18 times since the poll?™s inception in 1982, carrying a record of 7-10 against top-ranked squads. The Rainbow Wahine has lost their last three matches to teams ranked No. 1, including two against Nebraska (Dec. 14, 2000 and Aug. 24, 2001). Hawai'i?™s last win against a top-ranked team came against UCLA on Sept. 4, 2000. Overall, Hawai'i has a 91-72 record against teams ranked in the top 10.
WELCOME TO THEs WAC ?“ This season, Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State join the WAC.sLast year, New Mexico State was 30-3, 15-0 in the Sun Belt and won the conference tournament. The other Aggies, Utah State, were 9-18, 5-13 in the Big West. The Idaho Vandals were 17-13 last season, 9-9 in the Big West.ssBoth New Mexico State and Idaho lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies lost to San Diego in the opening round, while the Vandals lost to Washington in the first rounds In 2003, both Idaho and New Mexico State advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Vandals lost to Hawai'i in Honolulu in the first round. New Mexico State lost to BYU in the first round. The Aggies were a perfect 15-0 in the Sun Belt in 2003.
VOLLEYBALL FORMAT ?“ For the first time since 2001 the WAC will not compete in divisions. The teams competing in the WAC this season are: Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai'i, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State. This season?™s format will be a double-round robin. Each team will face the other eight at home and on the road.
2005 WAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
November 24 (Quarterfinals)s
Match 1 - No. 8 vs. No. 9 ?” 9:30 a.m.ss
Match 2 - No. 4 vs. No. 5 ?” 12:00 p.m.
Match 3 - No. 3 vs. No. 6 ?” 2:30 p.m.
Match 4 - No. 2 vs. No. 7 ?” 5:00 p.m.
Match 5 - Winner Match 1 vs. No. 1 ?” 7:30 p.m.
November 25 (Semifinals)
Match 6 - Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4 ?” 4:00 p.m.
Match 7 - Winner Match 2 vs. Winner Match 5 ?” 6:30 p.m.
November 26 (Championship)
Match 8 - Winner Match 6 vs. Winner Match 7 ?” 4:30 p.m.
REGIONAL SITES SET ?“ The 2005 NCAA Volleyball Championship will be the 25th. The NCAA Division I Women?™s Volleyball Committee has announced the following sites for regional competition of the 2005 NCAA Division I Women?™s Volleyball Championships. The first sight is the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., along with the The Recreation Bulding in University Park, Pa.; the Maples Pavillion in Stanford, Calif., and the G. Rollie White Cloiseum in College Station, Texas. The University ofs Nebraska, Penn State University, Stanford University and Texas A&M University are the hosts for the regionals, which will be held December 8-11. The first and second rounds will be held December 1-4 in sites yet to be determined. The Final Four will be held December 15-17 in San Antonio, Texas.
TOP STAT LEADERS ?“ The following are the returning statistical leaders in the WAC from 2004.s
In hitting efficiency, six of the top 10 hitters are back, led by Hawai'i?™s Victoria Prince (.411) and Boise State?™s Cameron Flunder (.316), who finished No. 1 and No. 3 in the WAC, respectively.s The remaining leaders are Nevada?™s Salaia Salave`a (.314 - fourth) and Nevada?™s Karly Sipherd (.281 - eighth).s
Four of the top 10 kill leaders are back for the 2005 season. The top returner is Nevada?™s Salave`a who was second last season, averaging 4.88 kpg. Hawai'i?™s Alicia Arnott was seventh averaging 4.09 kpg. The other returning leaders are Boise State?™s Flunder (4.07 kpg - eighth) and Hawai'i?™s Susie Boogard (3.83 kpg - ninth).
Six of the top assist leaders from last season return for the 2004 campaign. Hawai'i All-American Kanoe Kamana`o is the top assist leader returning (13.62 apg - first) followed by Nevada?™s Tristin Adams (12.37 apg - fourth). Boise State?™s Christina Melvin is the fifth top returner in assists after averaging 11.71 apg, followed by Fresno State?™s Robyn Keune (11.60 apg - sixth) and San Jose State?™s Kristina Conrad (11.18 apg - seventh). Louisiana Tech?™s Rhyann Enny finished 10th with an average of 10.79 apg.
Five of the top 10 blockers return, including Hawai'i?™s Prince, who was second in the league, averaging 1.63 blocks per game.s Also returning is Hawai'i?™s Kari Gregory (1.51 bpg - fourth) and Nevada?™s Salave`a (1.42 bpg - fifth). Nevada?™s Sipherd finished sixth (1.18 bpg), followed by Hawai's Kamana`o (1.15 bpg - seventh).
sFour of the top 10 servers also return led by Louisiana Tech?™s Enny who finished fourth last season, averaging 0.41 sapg, followed by Boise State?™s Kim Fenneman and Jackie Strouds (0.39 - tied for fifth). Louisiana Tech?™s Ambra Hayes finished 10th, averaging 0.35 sapg. Three of the top 10 dig leaders return led for the second-straight year by San Jose State?™s Jessie Shull, who set the WAC record for digs per game, averaging 5.35 dpg. Also returning is Hawai'i?™s Ashley Watanabe (4.22 dpg - third), Fresno State?™s Yuko Mori (3.61 dpg - eighth).
RETURNING ALL-WAC PLAYERS ?“ Of the 12 first-team all-WAC players in 2004, seven should return for the 2004 season, including Hawai'i?™s Kanoe Kamana`o, the WAC?™s Player of the Year and Tara Hittle, the WAC?™s Freshman of the Year. Hawai'i also returns first-team all-WAC selections Alicia Arnott and Victoria Prince. Nevada?™s Salaia Salave`a, San Jose State?™s Jessie Shull and Boise State?™s Cameron Flunder also return from the 2004 first team. Four of the second-team all-WAC performers will also return this season, including Nevada?™s Tristin Adams and Karly Sipherd. Hawai'i has a duo returning, including Susie Boogaard and Ashley Watanabe.
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TWO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS ?“ This season, the WAC will have two 2004 conference champions vying for the title. Both Hawai'i and New Mexico State won conference titles and tournaments last season. The Rainbow Wahine had a perfect 13-0 season as the WAC champion. The Aggies had their second-straight 15-0 perfect season as the Sun Belt champs.
CHANGE OF VENUE ?“ San Jose State has changed its volleyball homes this season. San Jose State moves from the Events Center to Spartan Gym. The Spartans played over 100 matches at the Events Center. San Jose State is no stranger to Spartan Gym. The Spartans have a 129-57 record there where they have played at least one match every season.
FRESNO STATE WELCOMES NIEVESs?“ This season, Fresno State welcomes Ruben Nieves. This is his first season as as women?™s volleyball head coach. In 11 seasons as the men?™s head coach at Stanford, from 1991-2001, Nieves directed one of the nation?™s premier volleyball programs. He guided the Cardinal to the school?™s only men?™s volleyball NCAA championship in 1997. Stanford was ranked in the nation?™s Top 10 in eight of his 11 seasons as head coach. The Cardinal reached the NCAA championship match in 1992 and he was selected the AVCA National Coach of the Year on two occasions (1992 and 1997).