Every match is a learning experience, and the education No. 5 Hawaii received as the Outrigger Hawaii Invitational concluded on Saturday should prove invaluable as the beach volleyball season progresses. While the Rainbow Wahine did lose to top-ranked USC for the ninth time in 10 meetings, Hawaii (11-2) saw growth in a number of duos, including the first-year pairing of Laurel Weaver and Emily Maglio.
Weaver-Maglio, playing at No. 3, rebounded from their first loss of the season on Friday to win all three of their matches on Saturday, including the only victory in UH’s 4-1 loss to the Women of Troy. USC (11-0), the defending national champion, left Queen’s Beach with the championship trophy and a 5-0 record in the two-day event.
Weaver and Maglio defeated USC’s Nicolette Martin and Terese Cannon, 21-10, 21-23, 15-7. It was one of two matches that went to three sets, the other coming at No. 2, where Nikki Taylor and Ka‘iwi Schucht lost for the first time this season, falling to Allie Wheeler and Sophie Bukovec 15-21, 21-11, 15-10.
“We were really focused (in Set 3),” said Maglio, an All-American as a freshman last season when she partnered with Katie Spieler. “After losing Friday (to Florida State) we knew what we needed to do to beat the better teams.”
“Winning was nice, but it’s never as sweet if it’s not the whole team winning,” added Weaver, a junior transfer from UCLA. “That’s what we really care about, our whole team success.”
Hawaii has a quick turnaround for its next competition, a dual with Nebraska (2-7) on Monday at the Ching Complex campus courts. The Huskers finished 1-4 in the OHI, with Justine Wong-Orantes earning the best defender award.
Other awards went to Arizona’s Madison Witt (best blocker), Utah’s Dani Barton (best attacker) and USC’s Sara Hughes (most outstanding player).
The Women of Troy ran their winning streak to 41 dating back to March 11 of last year.
“This was a great tournament for us, with so many good teams,” said Hughes, a three-time beach All-America honoree who is 103-3 in three seasons with Kelly Claes. “After losing (21-12 in Set 1 against Utah on Friday), honestly I think Kelly and I needed that. It was a wake-up call.”
It was the only set that Hughes-Claes dropped over the two days. The USC pair came close to losing a second, turning back Hawaii’s Morgan Martin-Mikayla Tucker 21-16, 24-22.
“The 4-1 score doesn’t look as tight of a match as it was,” Hawaii coach Jeff Hall said. “We were close, but we still have a ways to go.”
Hall did switch up one pair for the match with USC. Freshman Amy Ozee replaced freshman Norene Iosia at No. 5, partnering with Hannah Zalopany. Ozee-Zalopany lost to Jenna Belton-Jo Kremer, 22-20, 21-18.
Hall said he wanted to give Iosia, the starting setter for the Wahine indoor team, some rest. Hawaii hosts Kansas in its final spring indoor exhibition Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Outrigger Hotels Invitational
At Queen’s Beach
Final standings
1. USC, 5-0
2. Florida State and Hawaii, 3-2
4. Arizona, 2-3
5. Nebraska, 1-4
6. Utah, 0-5
>> Most Outstanding Player: Sara Hughes, USC
>> Best Defender: Justine Wong-Orantes, Nebraska
>> Best Blocker: Madison Witt, Arizona
>> Best Attacker: Dani Barton, Utah
