Rainbows' success as much to do with karma as kills
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
High on the unwritten list of unspoken words for 2004 Rainbow Wahine volleyball is "substitute." "Disrespect" is also avoided, along with "reserve."
Hawai'i players never say they "will win," according to sports psychologist Michael D'Andrea. They always say they are "determined to win."
D'Andrea
D'Andrea and his wife, Judith Daniels, are "performance enhancement" counselors for most UH athletic programs. They are also professors in the Department of Counselor Education in the College of Education.
It has been tough to figure this Hawai'i team audacious enough to win its first 14, going into Western Athletic Conference matches at Louisiana Tech tonight and SMU Saturday. The 'Bows have soared to the No. 3 national ranking despite losing seven seniors.
Even coach Dave Shoji, in his 30th year, finds it difficult to explain this team's stunning success. "Right now," Shoji says with a smile, "it's good karma or something."
D'Andrea believes there might be something to that. This is his fourth year working with volleyball. He describes the first three as "dominated by the mystique of Lily (Kahumoku) and Kim (Willoughby)."
This team is no longer captivated by an All-America aura.
"If karma is about 'what goes around comes around' I would say there's a bit of karma with this group in terms of what they put out," D'Andrea says. "When they first got together this summer they were determined to have a genuine respect and likability. That's the karma they put out and now it's paying off in the fifth game."
Freshman Tara Hittle, the humorous heart of Hawai'i, describes the personality of her team as "light-hearted and passionate." It is an offbeat combination that might seem silly if it was not so accurate — and the 'Bows were not unbeaten.
"We're all on each other's side and we all want everyone to do the best they can," Hittle says. "We also have the same goal in mind. We're all together in everything we do. It seems like we have a purpose."
D'Andrea has a wealth of psychological terms to describe this group. Allocentric — the opposite of egocentric —Êis one. "Highly mature and well-developed in terms of insight as individuals and as a collective" is another.
Less technically, he recalls that from the first day this team had realistic expectations "based on a high level of respect for each player." Each one committed to staying together through good times and bad. Remarkably, bad has yet to show its face.
The players have also been open to help from the start. They absorb every word coaches utter and are "extraordinarily motivated" to seek out the counselors.
At precisely the same time before every match, senior captain Melody Eckmier finds Daniels and D'Andrea to come into the locker room for mental training. A half dozen players contribute thoughts on how the team can play to its potential. Visualization follows.
The Rainbow Wahine freely discuss their failings, admitting the lapses they suffer are a loss of focus and always their fault. They talk about signaling, on the court and from the bench, with smiles designed to relax and remind that if they pull together they can sustain their success.
So far, this season has been a case study in success. It is hard to explain, but very easy on the eyes if you are a Hawai'i fan. It is also extremely rare, according to D'Andrea.
"Once the fan base gets over its surprise, they will find out they have one of the most special volleyball teams in the history of the program," he says. "This is a genuine rarity. We've worked with 14 of the 17 programs here since 1997 and this is a very special group."
After the start this team has had, that goes without saying, or at least on the unwritten list of unspoken words.
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
