Shoji injects fun into Rainbow Wahine practices

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	WAC Volleyball WHERE: Reno, Nev. and Fresno, Calif. WHEN: Today at 5 p.m, Hawai'i time, No. 2 Hawai'i (24-1, 10-0 WAC) vs. Nevada (12-13, 5-5 WAC); Sunday, 10 a.m., Hawai'i time, No. 2 Hawai'i vs. Fresno State (18-5, 8-2 WAC). TV/RADIO: Both matches live on KKEA 1420 AM

With Shoji's blessing, the second-ranked Rainbow Wahine injected some fun into practice by playing one of the crudest soccer matches in the history of the sport inside Gym 1 Tuesday.

The 20-minute impromptu scrimmage broke up the doldrums of practice and offered a rare glimpse into Shoji's coaching as he prepared his Rainbow Wahine for Western Athletic Conference road matches at Nevada today and Fresno State Sunday.

Hawai'i has won 84 consecutive matches against WAC opponents and can clinch its eighth consecutive WAC regular-season title by defeating both Nevada and Fresno State.

"I think more so than any other year that I have played for this program, Dave has been very positive and has encouraged us to have fun," Hawai'i senior All-American Lily Kahumoku said. "That's something that he hasn't always done. That's motivating."

In keeping with the "are we having fun, yet?" theme, Shoji has embraced the role as amusement operator.

"Our practices are very monotonous so anything we can do to lighten it up we'll do," said Shoji, who has won four national titles in his 29 years at Hawai'i. "I just kind of follow their lead. When they want to do some silly things, I'll let them go along with it and have some fun."

Sometimes, it's Shoji who initiates the fun. Shoji has been known to let his players organize their own practices and, in a rare moment of silliness, he donned former setter Margaret Vaka-sausau's jersey and showed off his arm muscles. When asked about it, Shoji said he didn't remember modeling Vakasausau's jersey.

"The only funny thing I've seen Dave do after a victory is try on one of our sleeveless jerseys and flex for us," Kahumoku said. "That was pretty funny. He's not a very large man. The uniform was very becoming on him. He seemed to pull it off quite well."

"He does things that you just look at him and you're like, 'what was that?' " senior All-American Kim Willoughby said. "You don't expect him to do some of the things that he does."

Willoughby said she respected Shoji for his ability to be stern, but also compassionate.

"He knows in order for us to be very successful he can't be uptight, he can't be a drill sergeant," Willoughby said. "But he also has to keep things under control."

Willoughby also said Shoji is very creative and trusting of his players, and allowed them to organize practice sometimes.

"On double days, he let us make our own practice schedule," Willoughby said. "I don't think (USC head coach) Mick Haley is doing that with anyone, or (UCLA's Andy Banachowski) is doing that. He does a lot of things like that. You know that he cares about us and wants us to have fun, and wants to keep us interested as well."

In another coaching move, Shoji said he'll grant his team an extra practice day off if they win the WAC regular-season title.

"We'll probably take another day off that we don't normally take off," Shoji said. "When we get home, we'll have five days to prepare for (visiting) San Jose State on the 15th. We'll probably take a couple of days off there. That will make them happy."

For that to happen, Hawai'i will have to get past Nevada today and Fresno State Sunday.

Nevada is led by WAC Freshman of the Year Salaia Salave'a, a middle blocker who is averaging 3.29 kills, 2.36 digs and 1.24 blocks per game. Hawai'i's defense clamped down against Salave'a in a three-game sweep of visiting Nevada on Oct. 4, holding her to six kills and .077 hitting.

"She didn't play well here," Shoji said. "I think she will be very determined to have a better match. If she does, then they'll be in it. If we can hold her down, I think we can beat them."

As for Fresno State, Shoji said he's wary about the Bulldogs, who took took UH to five games before losing 15-13 in Game 5 last season in Fresno. This season, Hawai'i swept visiting Fresno State on Oct. 2.

The Bulldogs will play their first match at the new Save Mart Center (16,116 capacity) on Sunday. The match will be the first athletic competition held at the new arena.

"Fresno has had their ups and downs since they've left here, but they're going to be dangerous," Shoji said. "They have got a really good left-side hitter (Kristen Fenton) and they've got (Kahuku graduate) Tuli Peters, who had a good match against us. They're a solid team and we have to play well."

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.