Slowly but surely, University of Hawaii coach Dave Shoji is hammering out a lineup.
It did the trick against Northern Arizona and soon the Rainbow Wahine will learn how it plays in the Big West.
Tai Manu-Olevao took her turn leading the way Saturday night, delivering 13 kills as the Rainbow Wahine swept the Lumberjacks again in Honolulu, finishing the preseason 8-3.
“Tai had a great night and really carried us,” Shoji said on the OCSports broadcast after a 25-20, 25-23, 25-18 victory. “We have to have somebody step up like that every night, and it was Tai’s night.”
The veteran coach felt the Lumberjacks (8-3) played better than on Friday, while his team wasn’t as sharp, but the Rainbow Wahine still featured plenty of contributors.
Outside hitter Nikki Taylor and middle blocker Kalei Adolpho notched eight kills apiece and middle blocker Olivia Magill added seven. Manu-Olevao made only one hitting error and netted a .414 attack percentage, adding a match-high 16 digs in her second double-double of the season.
Led by that nucleus, UH — which dropped out of the AVCA Top 25 poll last week for the first time since 1992 — takes a three-match winning streak on the road and faces UC Davis on Friday and UC Riverside on Sunday.
“It’s been a long preseason,” Shoji said. “Ups and downs. I think we feel better about ourselves going into conference.
“We started with Davis and they beat us last year there. I’m looking forward to getting back into the Big West.”
Hawaii also did damage from the service line Saturday night, with nine aces to go against three errors. Setter Taylor Higgins led the way with four.
“We’re making something happen from behind the service line, and that’s what you have to do,” Shoji said. “You can’t be conservative and guide the ball in. Our jump-servers have a green light. They scored well last night and tonight it’s looking better.”