Volleyball
Shoji forced to fill holes in UH lineup

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji must find replacements for Lily Kahumoku, Veronica Lima and heralded recruit Jennifer Saleaumua, who has yet to qualify academically. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Coach Dave Shoji is still mulling a roster, let alone his starting six. The team that ended last season with one senior starter in the final four, is down two impact players and a national high school player of the year.

After debating six months, All-American Lily Kahumoku decided to spend the year with her family in Alabama. (Kahumoku may be changing her mind. See story.) Veronica Lima has stuck by her winter decision to return to Brazil. During a spring visit, she told Shoji she would play professionally at home.

Jennifer Saleaumua, who launched 52 kills in her final high school match, is not here and not yet eligible academically. She should know by early September if she can play.

But tune in tomorrow. If the two weeks before the Wahine's opener are anything like the past few months, dramatic change could come at warp speed. Even Shoji has no clue what he will see Aug. 24, when his team plays defending NCAA champion Nebraska in the NACWAA State Farm Classic at Stockton, Calif.

"The past three years, we'd line up two middles, two lefts and a right and come at you and overpower you," Shoji said. "It definitely won't be that easy this year. This is more like a normal volleyball team.

"Before, it was fairly simple. We trained hard, worked hard on skills, but there weren't a lot of adjustments to make, not a lot of competition for starting positions, no moving people around. It was a pretty easy coaching job. Now, it's going to have to be a lot more creative."

Envision sophomore Maja Gustin, the Western Athletic Conference's Preseason Player of the Year, moving from middle to left side. Picture sophomore Kim Willoughby rotating from right to left.

Expect both to see non-stop sets: "Our first option everytime," Shoji said, giving away his game plan. "The big thing we need is, when we're playing defense and we dig the ball, we need someone who can terminate out on the left. Maja is one we think can do that on a consistent basis. ... We need two. Kim will be one. Maja will be the other."

The sets they see — from Jennifer Carey or Margaret Vakasausau — will be lower, faster and all over the net. Kahumoku, Lima and Jessica Sudduth, last year's senior captain, liked their sets slow. This team hits quickly. Shoji likens his last three teams to "Michigan-style" smash-mouth football. This group is all about deception.

Now, he and his staff just have to put together an entirely new look.

Sophomore Lauren Duggins and red-shirt freshman Melody Eckmier could start in the middle. Tanja Nikolic — the team's only senior — might show up anywhere. The one deep position is backrow specialist, with Vakasausau, Melissa Villaroman and transfer Hedder Ilustre all gifted defensive players.

But anything could change and, based on the offseason, probably will. This team has gone from Top 10 to total mystery before touching a volleyball. And no one seems to know who will lead the way back.

"I thought Lily would need to be one to bring people together," said Andrea Gomez-Tukuafu, one of last year's seniors. "They are going to miss her. They can't fill that hole. Losing her leadership will hurt more. They have the skills and technical things they need, but leadership ... "

She leaves the thought unfinished. Shoji cannot, but he doesn't sound discouraged. He senses leadership potential in Vakasausau, Nikolic and Gustin, and sees more potential in this team than most might expect.

"Without Lily, we just hope to go as far into the playoffs as we can," he said. "We've got some outstanding people, no question. Kim will still be one of the best players in the country and Maja will be an All-American-type this year.

"NACWAA will be a good gauge as to where we are. We're not going to get blown out. We're going to be very competitive. I really think so. Obviously we have to execute when we get there, but we've got enough players."

QUICK SETS: Washington hired Jim McLaughlin as its new head coach last week. UW athletic director Barbara Hedges approached UH coaches Charlie Wade and Kari Anderson about the opening.