Great expectations greet volleyball Wahine

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

A year ago, the Rainbow Wahine's always-infinite volleyball dreams suffered an August meltdown. Now, the final-four hype at the University of Hawai'i is ubiquitous.

Clockwise from top left, Margaret Vakasausau, Lily Kahumoku, Maja Gustin and Kim Willoughby give the Rainbow Wahine proven talent. But health and team chemistry also will be important to UH's success this season. Photo illustration by Jon Orque • The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawai'i has learned a little about high expectations, winning 84 percent of its matches and all four titles during Dave Shoji's 27 years as head coach. But it has been 15 years since the last championship. Dreams have been dashed and talented teams have come up agonizingly short.

But ... and it bears repeating, never before have the Rainbows come into a season with a more formidable left-side attack and three legitimate first-team All-America candidates.

"I don't think we've ever had two players like Kim (Willoughby) and Lily (Kahumoku) playing on the same team," Shoji said. "Throw in the mix a big, strong middle blocker (Maja Gustin) and it's about as good a group as we've ever had. I wouldn't say the best, but I don't think there's any doubt those two lefts are the best two on any team we've ever had."

Shoji's task is to take all the diverse, immensely talented pieces of this puzzle and put it together by December.

First, he has to find enough volleyballs for setter Margaret Vakasausau to pass around.

Last year Kahumoku, an All-American in 2000, took the season off to settle her soul. High school All-American Jennifer Saleaumua, Hawai'i's sole recruit, never showed. All eyes shifted to Willoughby. She responded with a school- and WAC-record 7.2 kills a game, fourth-best in NCAA history.

UH's swing sisters

Dave Shoji has won four titles during his 27 years as head coach. Advertiser library photo • Aug. 8, 2001

"This year the offense has got to be pretty simple," Shoji said. "With Kim and Lily out there you don't want to be messing with too many fancy things. Definitely, we're going to set a lot of balls out to the left."

That's not to say Hawai'i can't come from other angles. Gustin, a gifted middle blocker, was forced to move outside last year to compensate for Kahumoku's loss. Now she is back in her comfort zone, able to again act on instinct and eager to take advantage of all the holes blockers are bound to leave as they cheat toward the All-Americans.

The roster is two-deep, at least, at every position.

Senior all-conference players Jennifer Carey and Hedder Ilustre probably won't start. Vakasausau, such a pivotal part of last season's Sweet-16 surprise, is the setter of the moment over Carey, who has been hurt. Freshman Cayley Thurlby is the future. Melissa Villaroman's passing skills give her the edge over Ilustre at the new libero position.

Depth is a strength

Lauren Duggins, an all-WAC second-team middle blocker last year, will be pushed by transfer Karin Lundqvist, an all-Big Sky second-team middle blocker the past two years. Melody Eckmier, who was starting a year ago, is also a starting threat.

The right side, opposite the setter, is a free-for-all. Nohea Tano, a starter in the middle last season, is probably the favorite. But 6-foot-3 freshman Susie Boogaard provides power and an imposing block and any spare middle could shift over. Carey, who ended last season as the starter on the right, has asked to set only this year.

Pacifying a roster full of prime-time players might be Shoji's toughest task.

"Our biggest thing is chemistry," he said. "Last year it wasn't a problem. We essentially played six people. We didn't have a lot of options."

Ideally, he would like to re-create the low-maintenance/high performance personality of that team. Every player produced in her well-defined role, and grew over the season.

Chemistry will be key

"It was really special," recalled Shoji's wife, Mary. "I remember very well Dave saying it was one of the most fun times he'd had with any of his teams. That said a lot as far as what they shared on and off the court.

"They all came in on an equal playing field. It helped make it an easy group to work with. They were just genuinely nice young women. What you saw was what you got. They love the game, have a passion for it, a strong desire to win. And they weren't worried about each other's stats."

But Shoji knows that team's early predicament played a part in its success. This year, barring a new wave of preseason problems, the atmosphere on the bench might be as critical as what's happening on the court.

"Some of the personal stats need to be deferred to the team," Shoji said. "It will be interesting to see how everybody handles it.

"People who started last year may not start this year. That's another chemistry thing where they have to accept my decision for us to function as a team."

Nearly the entire team has spent the summer here together, waking at 6:30 a.m. to work in the weight room and often playing later in the day.

Shoji doesn't see that bond "unraveling." What he worries about most now is "rushing" his team into a postseason sprint. Like many others, he perceives greatness, and is eager to see it.

"This is the kind of season where you can't wait for the first day," he said. "I think all of us just can't wait. We have an outline of the season. Obviously we have goals. The first goal is to work on skills.

"This is the kind of team where you just want to throw them out there and see what they can do, but I have to tell myself every day to be patient."

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2002 Schedule
Subject to change

August

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

September

1 — 15th Hawaiian Airlines Classic (UCLA vs. Ohio State, 3 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. Colorado, 5). 2 — 15th Hawaiian Airlines Classic (UCLA vs. HAWAI'I, 5 p.m.). 5 — Eighth annual Aston Imua Challenge (Washington vs. San Diego State, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'i vs. San Francisco, 7). 6 — Eighth annual Aston Imua Challenge (San Francisco vs. Washington, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. San Diego State, 7). 7 — Eighth annual Aston Imua Challenge (San Diego State vs. San Francisco, 5 p.m.; HAWAI'I vs. Washington, 7). 13-14 — Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. 20 — Houston. 21 — St. Mary's. 22 — Houston vs. St. Mary's (1 p.m.). 27 — *Rice.

October

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

November

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

December

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

* WAC matches

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