There were plenty of strikes rolled on Sunday as the Hawaii beach volleyball team hosted its “Bowling with the ’Bows” fundraiser at the Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, Calif.
The one the Rainbow Wahine didn’t want to see was when watching the NCAA tournament selection show. Hawaii had thoughts that losing to Cal Poly in Saturday’s Big West tourney final might be a strike against making a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA event.
Instead, the SandBows (29-6) picked up one of the two at-large berths and will face defending national champion UCLA (31-3) in Friday’s first-round opener. The two have met three times in the NCAA tournament, including last year’s semifinal won by the Bruins 3-2. UCLA also defeated Hawaii 5-0 at Queen’s Beach in Feb. 24.
Cal Poly (25-10), which beat the SandBows 3-2 for the Big West title Saturday, earned the other at-large berth. The sixth-seeded Mustangs, making their first NCAA appearance, drew second-seeded Florida State (28-5).
The top seed went to USC (28-4), which downed UCLA for the Pac-12 title. Women of Troy meet Atlantic Sun champion Stetson (29-8).
West Coast Conference runner-up Pepperdine (20-9), the fourth seed, plays fifth-seeded LSU (29-6). The selection format dictates three teams from both the west and east regions; the at-larges can come from either region.
“I’m happy the (selection) committee awarded both to the west,” said Hawaii coach Jeff Hall, whose high game was a 153 with a couple of strikes on Sunday. “The west was so packed this year. It was clear from the beginning that Nos. 1-2-3 were going to be the usual suspects with UCLA, SC and Pepperdine.
“Even though Pepperdine stubbed its toe (losing twice to Loyola Marymount in the WCC tournament), they clearly were the third-best in the west. We just want to see the best eight teams playing, regardless of region, and I think they got it right this year.”
Hawaii leaves Tuesday for Alabama. The biggest question concerns the availability of junior Julia Scoles, who suffered a back injury in Set 2 of Saturday’s semifinal against Cal Poly and did not play the rest of the day.
Hall said Scoles would be evaluated and a decision made later in the week. If she is unable to play, the SandBows will use an alternate.
On Saturday, that was junior Norene Iosia, who joined the team the previous week after spring indoor training was done. She and senior Ari Homayun went 2-0 at Flight 4 on Saturday.
Hall said if Scoles was unavailable, the alternate would take Scoles normal place at Flight 2 with Homayun.
“We hope Julia can play,” Hall said. “She’s a tough cookie. She wants to play.”
Scoles-Homayun are 26-6 on the season, including Saturday’s medical forfeit.
Hawaii is one of five teams to make every NCAA tournament, the others being USC, UCLA, Pepperdine and Florida State. All of the SandBows’ losses have come against the tournament field: Cal Poly (0-3), Pepperdine (0-2), USC (0-1), UCLA (0-1) and Florida State (0-1). They did not play Stetson.
The SandBows will leave California before the Rainbow Warriors open play in the NCAA tournament Thursday at Long Beach State. Hall, a former Warriors assistant, said: “Wouldn’t it be great if we both came back with national titles?”
NCAA BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Friday-Sunday, Gulf Shores, Ala. Double-elimination (except for championship)
Friday
D1. USC (28-4) vs. Stetson (29-8), 4 a.m.
D2. Pepperdine (20-9) vs. LSU (29-6), 5 a.m.
D3. UCLA (31-3) vs. Hawaii (26-9), 6 a.m.
D4. Florida State (28-5) vs. Cal Poly (25-10), 7 a.m.
D5. D1/D2 losers, 8 a.m. (loser out)
D6. D3/D4 losers, 9 a.m. (loser out)
D7. D1/D2 winners, 10 a.m.
D8. D1/D2 winners, 11 a.m.
Saturday
Bracket play, 8 a.m.-noon
Sunday
Semifinal, 4:30 a.m., championship, 8 a.m.
TV: Friday, ESPNU; Saturday, ESPN2; Sunday semifinal, ESPN2; championship, ESPN.
Online: All courts of all duals, ESPN3.
