The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 21, 1998

Hawaii Pacific takes fast track to first women's volleyball championship crown

Unlike many Division II schools that have spent years waiting for a chance to be a national champion, Hawaii Pacific wasted little time.

The former NAIA institution claimed the Division II Women's Volleyball Championship in its first tournament appearance. The Sea Warriors defeated North Dakota State, 15-10, 8-15, 15-12, 16-14, December 6 in Kissimmee, Florida, to claim the title.

Hawaii Pacific trailed at the beginning of each of the four games before rallying to win three of them. North Dakota State mounted an 8-3 lead in the opener before the Sea Warriors knotted the score at nine. Hawaii Pacific then scored five consecutive points to win, 15-10.

The Bison once again opened with the momentum in game two, leading 9-1 after six consecutive serves and three aces from Charleen Andersen.

The Sea Warriors trailed, 9-1, in the third game before Hai Yan Wang posted five of her 19 kills to help Hawaii Pacific tie the score at 12 and win the game, 15-12.

North Dakota State's 10-6 lead in game four evaporated as the Sea Warriors tied the score at 12. Debbie Sant'Anna had six of her match-high 28 kills in the final stretch and helped Hawaii Pacific to a 16-14 win to claim the championship.

Sant'Anna and Wang combined for 47 kills in the match, while Geri Getchell led the Bison with 14 kills.

It was the second time in school history that North Dakota State finished as the Division II runner-up. The Bison last advanced to the championship game in 1990.

The national champions placed Wang, Nia Tuitele and Sant'Anna on the all-tournament team. Melinda Almazon and Nikki Van Rausen of Regis (Colorado); Anderson, Kara Deringer, Carrie Jacobson and Jamie Lene of North Dakota State; and Tampa's Hilary Epling, Danielle Faggion and Dawn Rawlins also were named to the all-tournament squad.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY

Quarterfinals: North Dakota St. def. Edinboro, 15-5, 15-4, 15-4; Regis (Colo.) def. Pace, 15-2, 15-5, 15-4; Tampa def. Northern Ky., 15-1, 13-15, 15-6, 15-12; Hawaii Pacific def. North Ala., 15-7, 16-14, 15-12.

Semifinals: North Dakota St. def. Regis (Colo.), 15-17, 15-8, 11-15, 16-14, 15-8; Hawaii Pacific def. Tampa, 15-9, 7-15, 15-10, 12-15, 15-12.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Hawaii Pacific -- 15 -- 8 -- 15 -- 16

North Dakota St. -- 10 -- 15 -- 12 -- 14

Hawaii Pacific -- K -- E -- TA -- Pct. -- SA -- DG -- BS

Gisele Rocha -- 9 -- 6 -- 40 -- .075 -- 0 -- 21 -- 0

Jhoana Maristela -- 5 -- 4 -- 18 -- .056 -- 0 -- 10 -- 0

Dawn Penebacker -- 3 -- 5 -- 16 -- .000 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0

Nia Tuitele -- 4 -- 0 -- 6 -- .667 -- 1 -- 12 -- 0

Hai Yan Wang -- 19 -- 6 -- 57 -- .228 -- 0 -- 28 -- 0

Debbie Sant'Anna -- 28 -- 10 -- 78 -- .231 -- 0 -- 28 -- 0

Kea Wong -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- .000 -- 1 -- 11 -- 0

Totals -- 68 -- 31 -- 215 -- .172 -- 2 -- 92 -- 1

North Dakota St. -- K -- E -- TA -- Pct. -- SA -- DG -- BS

Charleen Anderson -- 10 -- 7 -- 47 -- .064 -- 3 -- 13 -- 0

Jamie Lene -- 12 -- 6 -- 37 -- .162 -- 0 -- 11 -- 0

Kara Deringer -- 10 -- 2 -- 28 -- .286 -- 1 -- 13 -- 0

Geri Getchell -- 14 -- 11 -- 51 -- .059 -- 0 -- 20 -- 0

Janna Ruebke -- 4 -- 0 -- 13 -- .308 -- 3 -- 16 -- 0

Carrie Jacobson -- 14 -- 4 -- 30 -- .333 -- 1 -- 3 -- 0

Darthy Zimmerman -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- .000 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0

Kathleen Hegg -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- .000 -- 0 -- 2 -- 0

Rachael Schmieg -- 0 -- 1 -- 1 -- .000 -- 1 -- 15 -- 0

Kelley Baker -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- .000 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Angie Sorteberg -- 2 -- 1 -- 8 -- .125 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Alanna Hetland -- 0 -- 0 -- 1 -- .000 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Totals -- 66 -- 32 -- 216 -- .157 -- 9 -- 96 -- 0