Iolani grad digs playing volleyball for Claremont
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Count junior Kacy Nekoba and her coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in Southern California among those who love the new libero position in women's volleyball.
The libero evolved from defensive specialist and allows players who can dig and pass but are too small to be effective hitters and blockers to be on the court nearly all the time instead of only during certain rotations. This is the first season of liberos in NCAA women's volleyball.
In Claremont's opening match, former all-conference defensive specialist Nekoba made her debut at libero and amassed 40 digs in five games.
"Oh ya," exclaimed Nekoba when asked if she enjoyed playing libero. "I like it a lot more. As a DS I came out every three rotations. Now I'm always on the court except when our middle blocker goes back to serve. I'm having a lot more fun."
Coach Dianna Turner shares Nekoba's enthusiasm. "She just kept digging ball after ball; a lot of it was block coverage. ... Of course, after that I was expecting her to get 40 digs in every match!"
Not quite, but Nekoba, a 2000 Iolani School graduate from 'Aiea, got 189 digs in Claremont's first 10 matches for an average of 5.4 per game. She was chosen to the all-tournament team at the Pacific Coast Classic.
As for the libero position, Turner says, "If you don't have a player like Kacy who can pass the lights out, it might not work out as well."
Nekoba is listed on the team roster as 5 feet 2, but Turner hints she may be shorter. "If she was four inches taller, she wouldn't be here," Turner says. "I'm happy with her height."
Of freshman reserve Shelbi Jim On (Punahou '02 of Manoa), Turner says, "We'd like to see her develop into a great defensive player, too, in the next two years."
MORE VOLLEYBALL
• William Woods (Missouri)
Sophomore Heather Roberts (Kaua'i '01 of Koloa) is proving that her selection early this month as NAIA regional Setter of the Week was no fluke.
Roberts ranks third in the American Midwest Conference in assists with 11.1 per game and second in service aces with 0.60 per game. She has put a conference-leading 98.7 percent of her serves into play. Roberts also contributes 2.67 digs per game.
Freshman Kandice Cummings (Kaua'i '02 of Koloa) is a backup middle blocker for William Woods, which is 12-3 and ranked third in the region.
Missouri Valley senior captain Kym Ingano (Pearl City '99 of 'Ewa) is fifth in the region in service aces with 0.69 per game.
SOCCER
• Western Washington
Chela Gray is making up for lost time.
Gray, a 2000 Iolani graduate from Kane'ohe, did not play soccer at the University of Washington. Last spring, she transferred to Western Washington, 78 miles north of Seattle in Bellingham, because it was a better academic fit.
Last month, she walked on to the soccer team. Last week, Gray scored two goals in two successive games, making four of six shots, and had an assist, to help the Vikings extend their win streak to three.
She leads the team in points (9), goals (4) and shooting percentage (.400, 4-for-10).
"You can't describe her in a sentence," coach Railene Thorson said. "She is very dynamic and mobile; but it is her work ethic that makes her exceptional."
Senior Shaye Anderson, second-team All-Great Northwest Conference last year, is again alternating in goal for Western Washington. Anderson is a 1999 Parker graduate from Kamuela.
FOOTBALL
• Mesa State (Colorado)
After losing its first three games, coach Joe Ramunno called for a change. He promoted right guard Kea Toledo (Damien '02 of Kahala) and two other true freshmen to the starting offensive line.
Result: Mesa State rushed for 374 yards (more than in its first three games combined) and routed New Mexico Highlands, 62-14, in its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opening game Saturday in Las Vegas, N.M.
"A lot of the yardage was gained on Kea's side," Ramunno said. "He did a good job sealing to the inside on the triple option and got to a lot of linebackers. He started because of an injury, but right now he has the job."
Freshman defensive lineman Kainoa Yoshida (Kamehameha '01) is recovering from an injury.
• Occidental (Los Angeles)
Two freshmen from Hawai'i started in the Tigers' 21-20 season-opening victory over Lewis & Clark (Ore.) in Los Angeles Saturday.
Left guard Mike Hom (Hawai'i Baptist Academy/Pac-Five '02, of Nu'uanu) received the highest film grades among offensive linemen.
"We passed a lot and his pass blocking was very, very good, despite a cast on his right hand for a broken bone he got during camp," coach Dale Widolff said.
Derek Turbin (Punahou '02 of Kahala) started at safety and David Marsh (Punahou '02 of Kaimuki) "played a lot in double tight-end sets," Widolff said. A fourth freshman, Ric Fukushima (Moanalua '02) is the No. 2 quarterback and held the ball for the three extra-point kicks that provided the margin of victory.
