Willoughby will be named All-American

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kim Willoughby officially becomes Hawai'i's 18th NCAA All-American today. Advertiser library photo

This week, the University of Hawai'i will see if quantity can overcome quality.

Willoughby will officially become the Wahine's 18th NCAA All-American today. That much is sure after her stunning sophomore season, and travel plans confirmed for her to accept the honor Friday at the final four in San Diego.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association national Player of the Year will be announced at that All-American Brunch. UH has created a Website and e-mailed it all over the country to promote Willoughby as a candidate. But the fact she's not playing this week, and five more remarkable athletes are, might stall the information superhighway.

Willoughby helped the Wahine soar to a 29-6 season that ended last week in the West region semifinals. She averaged 7.20 kills a game and finished with 850 kills. Only three players in NCAA history have been more prolific.

But numbers don't define national player of the year. It has been more than a decade since someone not playing the final week was honored, and only four have done it since the AVCA originated the award in 1985: Stanford's Bev Oden (1990), Hawai'i's Teee Williams (1989), Long Beach State's Tara Cross (1988) and BYU's Mariliisa Salmi (1986).

Even UH coach Dave Shoji calls Stanford's Logan Tom — who started for the U.S. in last year's Olympics and is Pac-10 Player of the Year — the country's premier player. "She plays at an Olympic level," Shoji said. "Head and shoulders above the others."

Four more still playing also have legitimate claims. Setter Dana Burkholder has lifted Arizona into its first final four. Long Beach State middle Cheryl Weaver, the Big West Player of the Year, is hitting an outrageous .441. Nebraska right-side hitter Nancy Metcalf is Big 12 Player of the Year. Her setter, Greichaly Cepero, is reigning national player of the year; of the six candidates, she has the best blocking numbers.

Nothing on their resumes is as gaudy as Willoughby's. Weaver wasn't even the most prolific hitter on her team. She didn't have to be. All the final-four teams benefited from a balance the Wahine found elusive this year.

"You look at each of the final-four teams and they all have very legitimate candidates," UCLA coach Andy Banachowski said. "You almost want to wait and see who wins before you pick. The committee could look silly if it picks somebody and the player bombs out because the other candidates were so strong. It's going to be a tough decision."

Coach Jayne McHugh's Pacific team played Hawai'i and every final-four team but Arizona, and she has admired Burkholder since she was a teen. "She probably would just as soon be run over by a truck than lose," says McHugh. But even she can't narrow the field.

"As a Big West coach, of course I'd love to see a Big West player get it," McHugh said. "But I don't have a clear-cut favorite. They all provide great things to their team. If you remove them, their teams would be completely different."

Western Athletic Conference coaches also admit their biases, and aren't as likely to count out Willoughby. Nevada beat Pacific and lost to Stanford in the NCAA's first round. Nevada coach Devin Scruggs remains one of Willoughby's biggest fans.

"Our whole staff felt Willoughby was the scariest player we saw," Scruggs said. "She's the one where you kind of want to cover your face and not get hit. "I'd say Kim has a chance, but it's slim when you've got last year's player of the year in the semis and the starting outside hitter from the Olympic team. ... It's a tough one this year. It's got to be one of the best final fours of any year talent-wise. They have some phenomenal athletes hopefully we'll be seeing on our national team in 2004."

Banachowski and McHugh believe Willoughby is "a final four away" from the ultimate honor.

Shoji's view is more precise: "Next year is her year. Her numbers might be down a little, but we'll be in the final four."

QUICK SETS: Kim Willoughby earned all-West Region Tournament honors last week at Long Beach State. ... Willoughby and teammates Hedder Ilustre and Melissa Villaroman — both defensive specialists — have turned down invitations to try out this week for the USA women's national summer training program. All three declined in order to catch up on their classes.