UH seniors battling to extend great year
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
For seniors Jennifer Carey, Hedder Ilustre and Margaret Vakasausau, last night likely marked the end of their playing careers at the Stan Sheriff Center.
But second-ranked Hawai'i made sure it wouldn't be their last match with a 30-26, 39-37, 30-25 victory over Washington. With the win, Hawai'i advanced to the NCAA Regionals against North Carolina.
"I love this game so much," Vakasausau said. "I love playing in Hawai'i so much, I'll probably cry my eyes out tonight."
Against the Huskies, the seniors contributed in their special ways with Carey and Vakasausau recording 21 and 32 assists, respectively, and Ilustre cleaning the floor with nine digs.
Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji said setters Carey and Vakasausau struggled at times last night, but found ways to rally the team from slow starts in each game.
"They're tough kids," Shoji said. "And Hedder came up with the spectacular digs tonight. It's their team. They set the tempo and mood of the team. That's what seniors do."
Carey and Vakasausau joined the Rainbows as freshmen in 1999. Two years later Hawai'i welcomed Ilustre, who played as a junior after transferring from Cal State Northridge.
The seniors have played big roles in Hawai'i's 121-11 overall record and 56-0 Western Athletic Conference record the past four seasons.
During that span, Hawai'i has reached the regionals four consecutive times, including a trip to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships in 2000.
Last night the seniors thanked the thousands of fans who cheered them on and helped Hawai'i lead the country in home attendance. Hawai'i averaged more than 7,000 fans per match this season.
"Looking up and seeing all the seats full, and all the fans cheering for us, it's a feeling like no other," Carey said. "I think we had a great run this year and it's not over yet."
Vakasausau earned the starting setting job as a junior and has emerged as the WAC's best at her position, winning two first-team All-WAC honors.
While teammates and coaches rave about her setting abilities, Vakasausau gained fame by playing another position in high school. She graduated from University High School in 1999 where she was a 5-foot-8 all-state hitter.
"You can't progress without the people around you," Vakasausau said. "My hat goes off to Dave and (assistant coach Charlie Wade) who actually recruited me and believed that I could be a setter here."
Carey started at setter her first two seasons, becoming the first UH freshman to start the season at setter since Melinda Beckenhauer in 1985.
As a junior, Carey played the majority of the season at right-side hitter after Vakasausau won the starting setter job.
Before joining the Rainbows in 2001, Ilustre played two years at Cal State Northridge, earning the Big Sky Conference's Defensive Specialist of the Year in 2000.
Last season, Ilustre, a libero, was the only defensive specialist to earn first-team All-WAC honors.
"I'm going to miss my team," Ilustre said. "I'm going to miss practicing, double days, everything. I'm just super, super glad I transferred here."
