Warriors to serve up Woodward

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

After years of training, University of Hawai'i volleyball player Ryan Woodward has become an accomplished server.

"He's a very good worker," manager Kathy Kawashige said of Woodward, who serves and buses tables at Alan Wong's Restaurant in McCully. "He puts in a lot of effort."

The restaurant allows Woodward to work around his volleyball schedule. Often, Woodward will go straight from practice to the restaurant.

"He works the busiest nights," Kawashige said, adding the 6-foot-4 Woodward is handy in the kitchen. "You always need someone with a long reach."

Woodward also is helpful in volleyball. Tonight, he makes his first career start, replacing outside hitter Delano Thomas, one of four Warriors suspended for violating an unspecified team rule.

"It's not the way I wanted (to earn the start), but I'll take it because time is running out," said Woodward, a fifth-year senior. "The coach needs me to step up and the team needs me to step up. This week, I was getting butterflies thinking about it in the middle of class. But I'm thinking of having fun. If I do that, I'll be OK."

Woodward is a Mililani resident, a 1999 graduate of University High and a third-year Warrior. But after being announced as a starter, Woodward was asked by one reporter: "Who are you?"

"Even on campus," Woodward said, "I blend in. I'm not that tall. I'm just a regular guy, another local boy at UH."

Instead of crossing the street from University High, Woodward's journey to the University of Hawai'i took two years and a side trip through Missouri. As a high school senior, he signed up with a recruiting service, which helped land him a partial volleyball scholarship at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Mo.

"It's Missouri, but we called it 'Misery,' " he said, laughing. "It was cold in the winter and ridiculously hot during the summer. I had enough of it after two years. I was ready to come back home. Hawai'i is home, and I was ready to come home."

He redshirted in 2002, gaining notice as the guest drummer during timeouts. In 2003, he was backup to Costas Theocharidis, a four-time All-America outside hitter. Last summer, he worked out with UH football players, lifting weights six days a week and participating in agility drills.

"This is my senior year, and it did cross my mind I might not ever start," said Woodward, who has one kill in four games this season. "Sometimes starting is not the role for some players. That's OK with me. I waited, and I guess it paid off."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.