Swede brings big game to UH

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wahine teammates Karin Lundqvist, left, and Maja Gustin played against each other this summer in Europe. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser Rainbow Wahine volleyball players from Sweden: 1988: Anna Vorwerk (All-America second team, final-four appearance) 1989-92: Malin Fransson (All-America second team) 1993-96: Angelica Ljungquist (Four-time All-American, 1996 NCAA Player of the Year, final-four appearance) 2002: Karin Lundqvist (Two-time all-Big Sky second team for Montana State)

Hawai'i volleyball fans won't get past her pedigree. Lundqvist, who has transferred to the University of Hawai'i for her final two seasons, is from Sweden. The country has given the Rainbow Wahine much more than meatballs.

Lundqvist will become the fourth Swede to play for UH when practice begins Monday. Anna Vorwerk and Malin Fransson were All-Americans. Angelica Ljungquist was NCAA Player of the Year as a senior, when she led the country in blocking and hit a school-record .417.

It is a lot for any human to live up to, let alone a transfer from Montana State. Lundqvist froze in tiny Bozeman for two all-Big Sky seasons before deciding she needed a change, and new challenge. With Ljungquist's encouragement, she contacted Hawai'i.

"Angelica just told me she had a really great experience here," Lundqvist says. "But it's always going to be different for whoever comes here. You make it by yourself."

She got the coaches' attention with one brief video of her game and a sophomore season that found her 18th nationally in blocking. The only one who has seen her play in person is junior Maja Gustin, whose Slovenian team held off Lundqvist's national team this summer at a European qualifier.

"All the coaches told me was to look for someone tall and blonde," recalls Gustin, who is also tall and blonde. "Sweden had 12 players. Eleven were tall and blonde."

Gustin eventually found her woman before the match and confirmed what Ljungquist had told Lundqvist about Hawai'i.

"I told her she would love it," Gustin says. "I told her she would be famous here."

First, Lundqvist has to find where she fits in on a Rainbow team that has developed remarkable depth over the offseason. Only time — Hawai'i opens Aug. 30 against Ohio State — will tell if she can keep up Hawai'i's hot Swedish streak.

At that match in Slovenia, Gustin saw a middle blocker with a quick arm swing who was as comfortable passing and digging as blocking and hitting. She confirmed the versatility Lundqvist's resume, which includes a Swedish Beach Tour championship, could only hint at.

Now, Lundqvist's goals have gone international.

"I think this will be a great challenge and wonderful opportunity to become the player I want to be," Lundqvist says. "I see weaknesses in my game not as limitations, but opportunities for growth.

"Playing for Hawai'i will be perfect because their great volleyball program, with so many talented players and strong competition, is where I will develop most."

WAC Tournament: The 2002 WAC Volleyball Tournament will open at noon PST Friday, Nov. 22, at Nevada's Virginia Street Gym in Reno. First-round matches will also be played at 2 p.m., 5:30 and 7:30.

Semifinals will be Saturday at 5 p.m. and 7. The championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday. Hawai'i is defending champion.

Tickets are on sale at Nevada's Ticket Office (775-348-7225). All-session passes go for $30 (adults) and $15 (students). The Silver Legacy Hotel is offering a fan rate. Reservation ID code is "volley."

QUICK SETS: Hawai'i led the country in attendance last year, averaging 6,514 per match. Nebraska was second at 4,259. ... The Rainbow Wahine have led the nation since moving into the Stan Sheriff Center fulltime in 1995. Last year was their lowest average since that first year. ... Former Olympic coach Fred Sturm resigned at Boise State and was replaced by Scott Sandel, who took Division II Northern Michigan to NCAA Tournament appearances his two years there. ... UTEP hired Scott Swanson, Arizona State's associate head coach, to replace Revis Ward-Daggett. ... Brigham Young, which will host UH Nov. 26, hired long-time assistant Karen Lamb to replace Elaine Michaelis.

2002 UH RAINBOW WAHINE SCHEDULE

August

30—15th annual Hawaiian Airlines Classic (UCLA vs. Colorado, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. Ohio State, 7). 31iHawaiian Airlines Classic (Colorado vs. Ohio State, 2 p.m.).

September

1—Hawaiian Airlines Classic (UCLA vs. Ohio State, 3 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. Colorado, 5). 2iHawaiian Airlines Classic (UCLA vs. HAWAI'I, 5 p.m.). 5iEighth annual Aston Imua Challenge (Washington vs. San Diego State, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. San Francisco, 7). 6iAston Imua Challenge (San Francisco vs. Washington, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. San Diego State, 7). 7iAston Imua Challenge (San Diego State vs. San Francisco, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. Washington, 7). 13-14iCal Poly-San Luis Obispo. 20iHouston. 21iSt. Mary's. 22iHouston vs. St. Mary's (1 p.m.). 27i*Rice.

October

5—*Louisiana Tech. 13i*Tulsa. 17i*at UTEP. 19i*at Southern Methodist. 21-22iNotre Dame. 24i*San Jose State. 25i*Fresno State.

November

1—*at Nevada. 2i*at Boise State. 8i*Nevada. 9i*Boise State. 10iStanford. 15i*at Fresno State. 16i*at San Jose State. 22-24iat WAC Tournament (Reno, Nev.). 26iat Brigham Young. 27iat Utah.

December

5-7—NCAA first and second rounds (TBA). 12-14iNCAA Regionals (TBA). 19,21iNCAA Championship (New Orleans).

* WAC matches

All home matches begin at 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center, unless noted