There was the detour to Eastern Arizona after graduation from Kahuku High School, where she earned a half dozen all-league honors in volleyball and basketball. It did wonders for her volleyball, but left her missing family, friends and 4-foot waves.

She returned with all-region honors, ready to accept the walk-on offer UH had made a year earlier. Hawai'i Pacific coach Tita Ahuna intervened, dangling a Division II scholarship that would pay for Fotu's nursing major.

Ultimately, the demands of nursing and earning all-conference honors twice for a nationally ranked team came into conflict. For the first time in her honor-roll academic life, Fotu stopped enjoying school.

Her father found a solution for her final year.

"My dad told me to try and walk on at UH," Fotu recalls. "I told him that's kinda crazy — you pay for my school when I have it all paid for? He said give it a shot."

Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji nearly shot her down. He had seven seniors the year Fotu showed up with a little talent and a lot of instincts for the game.

"I didn't encourage her at all," Shoji says. "I was not sure how she could fit in. I knew last year she had no chance to contribute. But she just kept getting better physically. I became aware of her all-around skills."

Fotu trained during her redshirt year. She woke at 4 every morning to come in from La'ie for offseason conditioning.

She was scared the first day. When the workout was over, she was petrified.

"I realized how much you need to put into it," Fotu said. "I wondered if I was ready for this. I needed to make a decision. I decided I won't give up."

For eight months Fotu was so nervous she was often sick before workouts. But she kept going and getting better. She refined the skills she came with and learned new ones as she started jumping higher, moving quicker, getting stronger.

"I knew if I stuck with it I'd be a stronger person — not physically but emotionally and spiritually," Fotu says. "I look back at that time and can't believe I made it through.

"It was a trial, trying out and working out. It was very different. The commitment level is a whole 'nother level at Division I. The hours ... people don't realize how many hours we put in."

Just as people don't realize how valuable Fotu has become. Shoji is only starting to see it. She wasn't in his plans two months ago. How many walk-on fifth-year senior transfers are?

Only Fotu would not let him forget her. She worked her way into matches as a stabilizing backrow force and a calm and capable backup to gifted freshman Tara Hittle on the right side.

"Teisa is not going to hit over anyone," Shoji says, "but she can put some pace on the ball so she's a perfect complement to Hittle, who is a little inconsistent with all those skills but more dynamic."

Fotu's makeup and maturity also make her an effective blocker and ballhandler. She is such a stabilizing influence the coaches have started letting her play libero when Hawai'i, which starts four underclassmen, simply needs to chill out.

Fact is, Fotu can play anywhere. Associate coach Charlie Wade nearly brought her in on the left side last week. She is a capable middle blocker and has good enough hands that Shoji considers her the backup to backup setter Cayley Thurlby.

Fotu's versatility is her second-best asset. At 22, and after all she has seen, her finest contribution is the feeling she gives her teammates. "She brings calmness and maturity," Shoji says, "which we don't have a lot of."

Fotu will bring whatever it takes, whenever the Rainbow Wahine need it.

"I don't really know what my role is, but the role I want to fulfill is to be whatever the team lacks," she says. "Whatever way I can contribute, I'll do it. I'm like a freelancer. Dave has given me that role. One night I play defense, one night I serve and block. He has me do whatever and I'm fine with that. I'm grateful for the amount of time I have."

Suddenly, Shoji is sorry Fotu's time is so short. She hopes to graduate next year in biology and pursue a medical or dental career. Her volleyball career will be over next month.

Fotu has no regrets. Hers might not have been a yellow brick volleyball road, but every step was worth it.

"If you ask anybody else that got a full ride out of high school they probably would not see it the way I see it," Fotu says. "This time (at UH) was really good for me because I appreciate it so much more. It's definitely something I'll look back on and be very grateful for ... that I never gave up. Now I'm finally getting to play on the court and I'm amazed. I can't believe I'm here. I love it."

Parking update

Parking will be available in the parking structure for tonight's match, but escalators and all but one elevator are out of commission. Those who need disability access are directed to the existing accessible parking spaces on the third floor, where a ramp to the arena is located.