Willoughby is WAC's best
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Led by Player of the Year Kim Willoughby, Hawai'i placed seven players on the Western Athletic Conference postseason awards list, the most since the Rainbows joined the conference in 1996.
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For the second consecutive year, Willoughby was selected by coaches as the top player in the conference.
UH's Kim Willoughby is a dominating force.
Willoughby, a junior left- side hitter, is the first to earn back-to-back honors since Hawai'i's Heather Bown during the 1998-99 seasons, and the seventh consecutive Rainbow to earn WAC Player of the Year honors.
Joining Willoughby on the WAC first team were middle blocker Lauren Duggins, left-side hitter Lily Kahumoku and setter Margaret Vakasausau. Setter Jennifer Carey, middle hitter Karin Lundqvist and libero Melissa Villaroman were named to the second team.
"I think the coaches realize that we have strength throughout our lineup," Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji said. "I think the majority of our players would start for just about every other team."
Willoughby has emerged as one of the nation's best in kills per game (6.29), hitting percentage (.366) and service aces (0.77).
Willoughby, who also finished in the conference's top five in digs (3.39), called her award "cool" and "awesome" and said she'll add the plaque to her growing "wall of fame" in her Varney Circle apartment.
"It shows me where I started from and where I'm going," Willoughby said of the wall. "I have my very first all-tournament team, honorable-mention plaque, all the way up to my All-American trophy."
Shoji, who is prohibited from voting on his own players, said Willoughby impressed the coaches with her "wow factor."
"I think the coaches recognize that she is a player that can dominate a match," Shoji said. "I think this year she dominated not only from the front court, but from the back court as well."
Shoji said the Player of the Year could have easily gone to Kahumoku, who won the award two years ago.
"I really thought Lily was deserving also," Shoji said.
Kahumoku said she appreciated Shoji's comments, but said Willoughby played lights-out this season.
"Kim is Jordanesque," Kahumoku said. "She's the most physically overwhelming player in the country. I tip my hat to her."
Fresno State's Lindy Vivas won her third Coach of the Year award after guiding the Bulldogs (22-5, 10-3) to the second-best WAC record. In comparison, Shoji, who won the award four out of the past seven years including the past two, led second-ranked Hawai'i (25-1, 13-0) to the best record in the conference. Shoji said coaches could not vote for themselves.
"I think Lindy deserves it," Shoji said. "She really worked hard with her team and her team is vastly improved over last year."
