Senior digs in for final year
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
With her broken right hand healed, University of Hawai'i all-conference volleyball player Ashley Watanabe declared herself fit for tomorrow's exhibition match with visiting Nebraska.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
"The hand's all better," said Watanabe, who is scheduled to play in her first match after missing all three of UH's matches in the NCAA Tournament last season. "It's a great feeling to finally play the sport that I love again."
Ashley Watanabe, who broke her right hand last season, won't take "any moment on the court for granted," including tomorrow's exhibition.
Yesterday, the 5-foot-6 libero showed no ill effects from her hand injury by diving, tumbling and passing accurately in practice at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I don't think she missed a beat," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "She's training hard. She's playing extremely well. We're looking forward to a big senior year from her."
As one of Hawai'i's best servers and defensive players, Watanabe needed just seven digs last season to tie the Rainbow Wahine season record of 437 set by Olympian Teee Williams in 1988. But Watanabe broke her right hand after she dived and jammed it into the back of a teammate's shoe during a November practice.
"It's the first time I've broken anything," said Watanabe, who averaged a UH-record 4.22 digs per game last season and ranked third on the team with 25 aces.
WHO: Hawai'i vs. Nebraska WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center WHEN: Tomorrow, 7 p.m. TICKETS: Lower level: $10 general, $5 Super Rooter. Upper level: $6 adults, $5 senior citizens and $3 for UH students and students ages 4-18. PARKING: $3. PROMOTIONS: Fans can redeem their ticket stub from tomorrow's women's volleyball match for a free ticket to either Saturday's or Sunday's baseball game against Louisiana Tech. Just show your volleyball ticket stub at a Les Murakami ticket window the day of the baseball game to receive your ticket.
Without Watanabe, the Rainbow Wahine were forced to juggle their lineup, and lost depth with some of the changes. Hawai'i defeated Colorado and Purdue in the NCAA sub-regional before suffering its first loss of the season, falling to Wisconsin in a five-game upset at the NCAA Regional in Green Bay, Wis. Hawai'i finished 30-1.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL EXHIBITION
"My teammates were very supportive and I hardly ever thought about being injured," Watanabe said. "I was just excited to watch them play and kick butt."
Rainbow Wahine setter Kanoe Kamana'o said the 'Aiea High graduate was nearly indispensible last season.
"She was the only libero that we had, basically," Kamana'o said. "She takes charge of the back row."
"We certainly missed her in the playoffs," Shoji added. "Besides her skills, she gives 100 percent all the time. She pushes everybody else. She's one of those kids who has been around the program and knows what's expected. She's trying to bring that out in everybody else, too."
Watanabe said she resumed weightlifting in January and is determined to make the most of her return.
"You don't want to take any (practice) rep for granted, or any moment on the court for granted," said Watanabe, a second team all-Western Athletic Conference selection. "I'm trying to set my mind in that direction."
Note: Tomorrow's exhibition match will use experimental scoring with games scored to 25 points instead of the regular 30 points, coach Dave Shoji said. Also, the match will last "at least four games."
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
