Willoughby, the 2003 national volleyball player of the year, has approached University of Hawai'i track and field coach Carmyn James about competing for the Rainbow Wahine when she returns for school in the fall. Willoughby would have one year of eligibility.

Willoughby earned all-state recognition in volleyball, basketball and track and field during her prep career in Louisiana. The three-time NCAA volleyball All-American helped UH to the final four in three of her four seasons and also played two years of basketball, earning all-WAC Tournament recognition.

In high school track, she specialized in sprints and jumps — something she probably won't be able to do for at least three months. Willoughby returned from playing professionally in Puerto Rico with severe stress fractures in her left leg. She is undergoing therapy and expects to be out of action for three months and ready to train in six.

James would also like to see Willoughby throw the javelin. She figures Willoughby could by the ideal heptathlete, if she's a quick study.

"The way she spikes a volleyball, she should be able to throw the javelin out of the park," James says. "If she can run, jump and throw, she could be an amazing heptathlete."

Willoughby turned down an invitation to join the U.S. national volleyball team when she went to Puerto Rico. Her Caguas team lost the Puerto Rico Volleyball Federation championship to Carolina. In the final, former UCLA All-American Kristee Porter had a match-high 29 points for Carolina and Willoughby had 28 for Caguas.

Willoughby is here until Sunday. She says she is searching for an agent to continue her volleyball career, possibly on the beach. She insists she doesn't regret giving up her chance at playing in the Olympics in August, especially now that she's injured.

"I might have had to make a choice of playing in the Olympics now, and never playing again," Willoughby said. "I can wait to play in four years."