Wahine volleyball team putting it together

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

An offseason from hell hath no fury like a Wahine scorned. And the University of Hawai'i Wahine volleyball team is truly ticked.

Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji says his team will take a new approach this season: “We just have to go all out all the time.” Kyle Sackowski • The Honolulu Advertiser

"We didn't even play yet," sophomore Kim Willoughby says, "and they just assume we're going to be bad. You can see in our practice it won't happen. We're even more after it now. The great thing is, everyone out here wants to be here."

The Wahine have been after it, on their own, since mid-July, playing pickup games and pouring sweat on the weight room floor. The heart of last year's final-four team remains, they insist, despite the high-profile absences of All-American Lily Kahumoku (red-shirting for personal reasons), Veronica Lima (returned to Brazil) and national high school player of the year Jennifer Saleaumua (academically ineligible).

The Wahine resent anyone telling them otherwise. Coach Dave Shoji isn't about to alleviate their anger.

"They want to prove to everybody that they can be a good team," Shoji says. "People already think we're not as competitive. These kids have a lot of pride. They want to prove people wrong. They think they can win a national championship. I'm certainly not going to do anything to prevent that feeling."

Shoji has had 16 teams finish among the Top 10 in 26 previous seasons. He believes this could be the 17th, but the planets must align precisely. The season opens Friday, against defending NCAA champion Nebraska, at the NACWAA State Farm Classic in California.

Shoji has no depth chart, he admits candidly, because he has no depth. The exception is defensive specialist, where Hawai'i boasts three exceptional players who could extend rally scoring into a graveyard shift.

The Wahine are not nearly as imposing as the past three seasons, so Shoji is installing an unorthodox triangle offense with three middle blockers, interchangeable hitters and souped-up setters.

"Faster is good, quicker is better," sophomore Melissa Villaroman explains. "We want the other team to have to keep up with us."

Nearly all the Wahine hitters have played middle so the transition is not as radical as it sounds. But for it to work, passing — a major question mark — must be near-perfect and the offense must carry a delicate balance between acceleration and accuracy.

The bring-it-on mentality of the past three seasons will be replaced by recklessness from the service line and an all-out offensive assault. Without it, Hawai'i cannot beat the best teams, and a dozen of its non-conference opponents are coming off postseason appearances.

"We just have to go all out all the time," Shoji says. "We cannot be conservative like we've been. When you've got more talent than the other side, you tend to be more conservative — let the other team make the mistakes. We have to force the issue now. We've got to go up and hit hard. We can't roll shot or hit tentatively. It's got to be all out, every night, and we take our chances that way."

Members of the Wahine volleyball team hoping to put it all together this season include, clockwise from bottom center: Jennifer Carey, Lauren Duggins, Melissa Vilaroman, Tanja Nikolic, Maja Gustin and Melody Eckmier. Kyle Sackowski • The Honolulu Advertiser

"People are going to see how hard we have to work and our commitment to this program and this team," junior Jennifer Carey said. "A lot of people are counting us out because people didn't commit or people didn't show up. These 12 people are here ... and they'll see how much fun we're having."

A look at the Wahine as the season starts — this week on the Mainland and next week at home:

Setter

Jennifer Carey is 60-4 as a starter her first two years, and a two-time all-WAC selection. Shoji says she sets the quick and back sets, which are more difficult, "as well as anybody in the country," but has struggled with location on the left, the most common set. "That's the only thing she lacks," Shoji says, "but that's critical. It's something we have to have." At 6-1, Carey is an imposing blocker and five inches taller than Margaret Vakasausau, her backup. Vakasausau has closed the gap, but needs more time on the court to fine-tune her quick sets and play calling. She is a technically sound blocker, and perhaps the team's finest defensive player.

Middle blocker

Maja Gustin is an impact player in the midst of a major make-over as the Wahine attempt to utilize all her exceptional talents. The all-region freshman led the conference in hitting (.370) and blocking (1.60) last year, playing a pure middle position. Now her swings will come in the middle, left and right, and Shoji promises she will see "twice as many sets."

First-year starters Melody Eckmier and Lauren Duggins will play "opposite" Gustin in the new triangle offense. They won't be confused. Eckmier is large and largely untested since hurting her knee as a high school junior. "She could have used another year not having to start, but because of our situation, she's going to play a lot," says Shoji, who expects a lot. "I envision her, in two years, being somewhat like (Olympian Heather) Bown — big, physical, imposing all the time. We need her take up space, slow down balls, and give us a little offense."

Duggins is graceful and versatile, one of the team's best passers and athletes. She too will see sets all over the net. "She just needs to assert herself," Shoji says. "Have confidence she can play. We're behind her, we think she can play, she just needs to believe it."

Transfer Nohea Tano is the first player off the bench — in the middle and at every hitting position. She won't make spectacular plays, but is without a weakness.

Outside hitter

Find Kim Willoughby and you will probably find the ball. She will get swings on the left, right, middle and back row. Her hitting percentage will parallel Hawai'i's success. If she can cut her errors and fulfill her vast potential, the Wahine's potential is huge. Willoughby averaged more than three kills and digs in a co-WAC Freshman of the Year performance (with Gustin) last season.

"We have to somehow keep her fresh," Shoji says. "She's going to get a ton of balls and ... she's in good condition, we just can't wear her down. She's got to be the one that carries us offensively. If she has a good year, then we'll be competitive in the Top 10. I thought she was ready for this last year, we just didn't need it, didn't want to put too much pressure on her. She's ready to do this."

Tanja Nikolic, Hawai'i's only senior, has graduated from luxury item — she would have started for any other WAC team at any position but setter the past two years — to basic necessity. She and Willoughby will start on the left, but hit everywhere and even share a front-row rotation. "If she can hold her own on the left, then we can utilize Maja in the middle more," Shoji said. "Tanja needs to show us and the team she can be a terminator on the left."

Tano is the backup for both, along with Litiana Damuni, an all-region player on Salt Lake City Junior College's national runner-up team two years ago. Hedder Ilustre, one of the Wahine's most dynamic defenders, played front row two years at Northridge.

Defensive specialist

Vakasausau is the most natural defender, Melissa Villaroman possesses the most skills and Ilustre can be flat-out amazing. Villaroman and Ilustre both played libero on national teams the past two summers. Picking between them is a problem any coach would envy. They will sub for Eckmier and Gustin in the back row, and take on passing duties. Shoji characterizes this trio as "among the best who have ever played back row for us." Ashley Watanabe and Megan O'Brian will back up.