The University of Hawaii at Hilo already knew what it had in Marley Strand-Nicolaisen. The Vulcans had a sneaking suspicion of what to expect from Morgan Lees, and the junior backed it up Friday.
Strand-Nicolaisen cranked 14 kills and Lees added eight on just 15 swings as the Vulcans picked apart Daemen College for a season-opening volleyball victory in Laie, Oahu.
Behind Strand-Nicolaisen (.333 hitting), the reigning Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Year, and Lees (.467), a transfer, the Vulcans won 25-16, 25-13, 25-9.
Lees was the biggest addition to a sophomore-heavy Vulcans team looking to improve on an 11-14 campaign last season.
“We kind of knew what we were going to get, but Morgan performed very well,” assistant coach Randy Nako said. “And we think she can perform better.”
Nako said the Wildcats of Amherst, N.Y., did not provide much of a challenge, adding, “We played the game we wanted to play.”
While he and coach Tino Reyes are going to hold off judgment until after the Vulcans face Florida Tech (11 a.m.) and Chaminade (7 p.m.) on Saturday, Nako noted UH-Hilo is already much improved in at least one area: communication.
“That’s something we focused on the last couple weeks in practice, and they are buying in,” Nako said. “We are already better in that area by a big margin. Hopefully, that’s a good sign.”
The Vulcans hit .248 and limited Daemen to a minus .026 attack percentage on the strength of 20 block assists. Shelby Harguess compiled six and Strand-Nicolaisen had five to go along with four aces.
Right side hitter Stacey Witt (.333) tallied four kills and libero Kahea Vento-Rowe added nine digs.
“Kahea was very steady,” Nako said.