Kimball's blocking is MVP quality

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kea Kimball "is a midget in the middle," says Loyola Marymount women's volleyball coach Steve Stratos, but her nine blocks in three games against Colorado Saturday night earned her the title Most Valuable Player of the LMU Tournament in Los Angeles.

"She is so physical when she gets up in the air and really disciplined with her hands over the net," Stratos said.

Stratos adds: "A lot of what Kea does goes unnoticed in statistics; she plays all the way around. She is one of our primary passers; that stat is never made public. Even with a strained back, she hits out of the back row, digs like crazy and has a tremendous jump serve."

Kimball had 12 digs against Colorado, 14 kills, 11 digs and five blocks (four solos) against St. Louis, and 12 kills against Notre Dame during the tournament.

Freshman outside hitter Michelle Look (Punahou '02 of Kailua) joined Kimball in the Lions' starting lineup last weekend and hit .385 against Colorado in the championship game. "She is there to stay," Stratos said.

"She is completely unafraid," he said. "Many freshmen tend to be somewhat tentative, but whatever concern we might have in regard to her experience is nullified by the fact that she plays without fear."

Look had a team-leading 15 digs in a five-game victory over St. Louis earlier Saturday and 12 against Notre Dame Friday in her first start.

Courtney Chai (Kamehameha '02 of Honolulu) is a walk-on reserve at Loyola Marymount.

MORE VOLLEYBALL

• Western New Mexico

It's homecoming this weekend for sophomore hitter Kim Tano (St. Francis '01 of Kailua) and junior setter Malia Kauhi (Kahuku '00) when the 8-1 Mustangs start a four-match trip to Hawai'i.

Tano, who was runner-up for PacWest Conference Freshman of the Year last season, leads the team in kills with 3.48 per game and Kauhi leads in assists with 10.32 per game. Tano averages 2.48 digs per game.

Western New Mexico plays UH-Hilo at Waiakea High at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hawai'i Pacific at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Andrew's Castle Gym, Chaminade at 7:30 p.m. Monday at McCabe Gym, and BYUH at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lai'e.

Western New Mexico was among 13 NCAA-II teams in the nation to win the Molten Academic Award for last season.

• New York University

Dominic Griffin, a record-setting setter for NYU's men's team, has been appointed assistant coach of the women's team.

Griffin (Punahou '98) set NYU season and career records in assists and was a three-time first-team Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Division III All-Star and two-time MVP of the championship tournament. Winner of several scholar-athlete awards, he graduated this year with a degree in history and resides in Manhattan.

• Northern Arizona

In a 3-1 loss to Santa Clara in the championship match of the Fiesta Bowl volleyball tournament, senior Corrie Machesky (Hawai'i Prep '99 of Kamuela) had a career-high 16 kills, a career-best .583 attack percentage and three blocks.

• Missouri Kansas City

The Kangaroos have bounced to their best start in history, 6-1, with co-captain Noe Perreira (Waimea '99 of Kalaheo) and Char Wong (Kamehameha '99 of Pearl City), both seniors, making significant contributions.

Wong served a career-high six aces in a five-game victory at Evansville last Wednesday. Perreira already has 20 block assists; she had 93 last year.

• Getting it straight

Anne Richardson, a 2002 Punahou School graduate headed for UCLA next week, plays water polo and was a champion swimmer in high school. Her younger sister, Puna, is one of Hawai'i's top high school senior volleyball players this year. Anne's sports were credited to Puna in last week's Homegrown Report.