honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, August 29, 2004

Who will step up for Rainbow Wahine?

The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine offense this season will be in the hands of sophomore setter Kanoe Kamana'o.

Illustration by Martha Hernandez • Advertiser library photo

 •  Departed Rainbows keeping school ties

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Sets sail to the floor untouched, and players swerve into each other during sprints. Familiarity is a foreign concept for the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine, who open their volleyball season Thursday against Eastern Washington.

KANOE KAMANA'O

Trying to replace seven all-conference seniors from a final-four team will do that. Realistically, the Rainbows' No. 13 preseason ranking is based on tradition and the graceful gifts of setter Kanoe Kamana'o, the 2003 national freshman of the year.

Counting last year's redshirts, there are 11 new faces on the roster. Kamana'o will set, with Cayley Thurlby an ultra-capable backup. Beyond that, positions are up for grabs, and anyone who isn't playing could be on the next serve. The days of dominant All-Americans are over for now.

"Everyone has to pull their own weight," Thurlby says. "If one person isn't performing, it's really preventing the whole team from performing, because we all rely on each other."

Here is coach Dave Shoji's depth chart for the 2004 Rainbow Wahine (jersey numbers in parentheses), and each player's best attributes, in the opinion of Shoji and his setters — who have the green light to set anyone standing:

Middle Blocker

Juliana Sanders (1)

6-2 Freshman

Kane'ohe (Castle)

Developed into team's "most dynamic" middle blocker ... good jump and quickness, ability to hit every set ... setters like her because she's aggressive, begs for the ball, and has ability to transform poor connections into unorthodox kills.



Melody Eckmier (8)

6-3 Senior

Simi Valley, Calif.

Best blocker, with good hand position and ability to go on stuff streaks, particularly against slow offenses ... most mature and analytical player ... improved quickness, including quicker armswing ... team captain.



Victoria Prince (16)

(third on middle blocker depth chart; see Right Side)



Kari Gregory (4)

6-3 Freshman

Las Vegas, Nev.

Massive improvement after making transition from outside to middle ... imposing size and strength ... setters say her block can be "huge," and like her ability to fight back after mistakes.



Nickie Thomas (9)

6-3 Freshman

Austin, Texas

Prototype middle with lanky body and ability to hit well off one foot ... working on ability to put game into fast-forward.



Left Side

Susie Boogaard (2)

6-2 Junior

RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

September

Hawaiian Airlines Volleyball Classic

2—Hawai'i vs. Eastern Washington, 7 p.m.

3—Arizona vs. Eastern Washington, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. San Diego, 7 p.m. 4—San Diego vs. Arizona, 2 p.m.

5—Eastern Washington vs. San Diego, 4 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. Arizona, 6 p.m.

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Volleyball Challenge

9—UCLA vs. Santa Clara, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. SW Missouri State, 7 p.m.

10—Southwest Missouri State vs. UCLA, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. Santa Clara, 7 p.m.

11—Santa Clara vs. SW Missouri State, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. UCLA, 7 p.m.

Waikiki Beach Marriott Invitational

17—Hawai'i vs. California, 7 p.m.

18—Hawai'i vs. UC-Irvine, 7 p.m.

19—UC-Irvine vs. California, 3 p.m.

24—Pepperdine.

25—Pepperdine (preceded by 5 p.m. alumnae exhibition).

30—*at Fresno State

October

2—*at Nevada.

8—*Boise State*.

10—*UTEP, 4 p.m.

14—*at Louisiana Tech.

16—*at Southern Methodist.

21—*Rice.

22—*Tulsa.

27—*at San Jose State.

29—*at Boise State

November

5—*Fresno State.

12—*San Jose State.

13—*Nevada.

19-21—WAC Tournament (Reno, Nev.).

23—at Utah State.

24—at Utah

*conference matches

Home matches begin at 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center, unless noted

Bellflower, Calif.

Might need to take largest leap this year as primary hitter and passer ... Shoji calls her his "most improved player" because of additional quickness and strength ... hits a "heavy," hard ball with control ... setters call her the passer whom servers will most want to avoid.



Alicia Arnott (7)

6-0 Sophomore

Honolulu (La Pietra)

Shoji hopes Arnott soaked up hitting knowledge from All-Americans Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku last year ... known for "live" arm and "major heat," when she contacts ball at highest point ... setters say she sees block well and is deceptively quick, enabling her to finesse shots offensively and pick up deep shots defensively.



Tara Hittle (3)

6-0 Freshman

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Setters call her "our fireball" because of her energy and "hunger" for the game ... A "pest" with quickness and innate ability to be around the ball and always make things happen — mostly good ... hits ball high and with sharp angles, hard to read.



Caroline Blood (5)

6-0 Freshman

Long Beach, Calif.

Came to Manoa as softball pitcher yet has surprising knack for game and good instincts ... athletic, strong and "definitely has the (hitting) arm from pitching," according to Kamana'o.



Jessica Keefe (6)

6-0 Freshman

Ames, Iowa

Suffered knee injury in March and just cleared to practice fulltime ... good size and fluid armswing with exceptional wrist snap ... when healthy, can touch 10 feet.



Right Side

Victoria Prince (16)

6-0 Junior

Kennewick, Wash. (WSU)

Most offensive-minded player on right side or in middle ... experienced and exceptionally aggressive — "She attacks all the time," Shoji says. "She doesn't know how to do anything but hit hard" ... sixth in Pac-10 blocking her final year at Washington State, and all-East Regional ... reminds Kamana'o of Lauren Duggins with her ability to get a touch on every block ... team's best server.



Teisa Fotu (12)

6-0 Senior

Lai'e (Kahuku, E. Arizona, HPU)

Shoji calls her team's "most well-rounded player" with dependable blocking, passing and hitting skills ... all-conference honors first three years of college ... played club with former 'Bow Nohea Tano, and fills same role as quick hitter and solid blocker.

Also: Hittle (third on depth chart) and Eckmier (fourth)



Libero/Def. Specialist

Ashley Watanabe (11)

5-6 Junior

'Aiea ('Aiea)

Former walk-on earned libero position by "distancing herself from every other back-row person through sheer hard work," according to Shoji ... team's best passer, along with Boogaard ... ability to make spectacular defensive plays.



Raeceen Woolford (15)

5-7 Freshman

Pearl City (Iolani)

Physical skills, including team-best 35-inch vertical jump, have pulled her ahead of all defenders but Watanabe ... explosive jumping ability translates into good quickness and ability to cover lots of court ... has become solid passer.



Kahea Silva (17)

5-3 Sophomore

Hilo (Hilo HS, UH-Hilo)

Led Pac-West in digs last year ... might be quickest Rainbow ... "bullet serve" tough to handle — and see — from her low trajectory ... Shoji compares her to former 'Bow Naomi Higa.



Kelly Ong (14)

5-5 Freshman

Oakland, Calif.

Walk-on with solid volleyball background and good defensive and setting skills ... setters like her energy.

Also: Blood (third on depth chart)



Setter

Kanoe Kamana'o (10)

5-8 Sophomore

Honolulu (Iolani)

Exceptional decision-making ability enhances hitters' skills ... tough to anticipate because she is comfortable with every set ... tough to read because she is fast and disciplined, squares up and jumps on every set.



Cayley Thurlby (13)

5-10 Sophomore

Naperville, Ill.

Shoji looking for ways to get her on the floor because she is "a tireless worker" with good setting skills and "decent" hitting skills ... comfortable as leader and fluid setter with lots of finesse ... "I think she'd start for a lot of other teams," Shoji says, "but I don't want her thinking about that."