Hawaii women’s volleyball: Memories of Michigan State loss
Coming in at No. 8 on our Stan Sheriff Center Top 10 countdown was the upset by Michigan State of then undefeated Hawaii at home in the 1995 regional final.
My memory might be a little shaky on some of the details but this is what I recall.
The Wahine were so close to making it to Springfield, Mass., birthplace of volleyball and being part of the centennial celebration. The Warriors volleyball team had been there in May as part of the final four, finishing fourth when losing in the last third-place match the NCAA ever held. The Hawaii men went from Honolulu to UCLA (losing in the MPSF final) then inexplicably flew back to Honolulu before flying back to Massachusetts. Players were exhausted. But I digress.
In 1995, volleyball was still traditional scoring unless it went to Set 5 when it went to rally score. For whatever reason, the NCAA decided to use what was called “Big Ten Experimental” where there were technical timeouts at 5 and 10 points, and a 10-minute break in between Sets 2 and 3 when it came to the tournament.
Hawaii had not used that format all year but, obviously Michigan State had. When the Wahine played the Spartans, Hawaii got to 5 and 10 first in every set (until the fifth), and I remember thinking that it sure killed momentum.
The Wahine were pretty efficient in Sets 1 and 2, winning 15-6, 15-8 but they didn’t seem to handle the 10-minute break well, coming back and losing 15-10, 15-7.
Then it went to rally score and Hawaii had not done well in the fifth, dating back to losing to Long Beach State in five in the 1989 regional final. In 1990, Wahine were 0-4 in Set 5, 2-2 in 1991, including regional final to LBSU, 1-2 in 1992, 0-3 in 1993 and 0-3 in 1994, including losing at The Beach in the NCAA regional semifinal.
Coming into the 1995 regional final, Hawaii was 31-0 and 2-0 in five-setters until seeing Michigan State.
IMHO, the taller Spartan block finally wore down the Wahine and Set 5 ended 15-12, the final point on an ace.
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Dave Reardon also put together some extras from that match, including some Michigan State perspective.
I remember that match and how Shoji turned away at the last point. Very painful. That was then and today we have another match to win. Come on ladies. We will be cheering you on tonight at Santa Barbara. You can do it!
i remember we forgot how to pass starting in the third. (we had won 1st and 2nd handily) Michigan ST. got their confidence up and there was no stopping them. We got predictable and State had a block party. Don’t forget, except for angelica we were quite small.
Is there a Wahine VB bloig? Anyway, surprise, surprise. Wahine sweep UCSB.
All I have to say is I am so proud of the girls of responding after last nite. I would say this is the #1 turnaround I have witnessed ever in 24 hours…I am the most happiest man today!!
Me too !!!
I remember the Michigan loss. The team on the bench having to wait before the trophies were given out the crowd started chanting rainbows, rainbows rainbows getting louder & louder until we were raising the rafters – giving the team a huge verbal hug.
Great article!
The Yuval Katz and UH Men’s Volleyball match against Paul Nihipali and the UCLA Bruins has to be on this list right. I remember that match was packed and Nihipali taunting the crowd when they booed him.
So, for this team, losing the two games may have been the best thing that could have happened to them. And imho, it showed in tbeir sweep of UCSB.
3. not sure what you’re asking
there’s a whole thread devoted to UCSB
Men’s volleyball makes our top 10 in several places.
https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=51533
anyway, new thread up for Monday. RPI at 9.