Kawika Shoji knew he would receive an excellent education at Stanford. But one of the biggest lessons he's had so far is learning how to lose.

"It's been a tough year, but it's a good learning experience," said Shoji, a freshman outside hitter/setter. "It's different being on the other side, but it's only going to make the team stronger."

Shoji has nearly matched the total losses in his high school career in one season with the Cardinal (3-23, 2-18 MPSF), who play Hawai'i this weekend at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I'm never going to be content to lose or learn how to lose," said Shoji, a 2006 'Iolani graduate. "But I'm learning how to deal with the loss and move on. Our team is trying to take the positives from each match and move on and improve."

After three state basketball championships at 'Iolani and one in volleyball, where he earned Advertiser State Player of the Year honors in both, Stanford volleyball is "an adjustment."

In another first, Shoji is playing left-side hitter, switching from setter midway through the season. He tallied a career-high 17 kills Saturday in a loss to Southern California.

"He's just a tremendous volleyball player," Stanford coach John Kosty said. "We made the switch because he's the best passer on the team and it gave us more ball control."

Shoji averages 1.69 kills per game with a .247 hitting percentage, 1.73 digs, 0.48 blocks and 7.06 assists per game.

"He's a very good leader, but he doesn't do it to draw attention to himself," Kosty said. "His talents make the game look so easy."

When Shoji began fall workouts with the team, he practiced at both outside hitter and setter.

"That's when I knew he was going to be something special," Kosty said. "We didn't know where we were going to play him, but he excelled at both positions."

Shoji realized the Cardinal weren't likely to contend for a national championship this season, but that was part of the appeal.

"I knew this year was going to be a rebuilding year," he said. "That's one of the reasons I chose to come here — to rebuild the program and turn it all around. It's exciting."

Help comes next year in the form of All-State players Spencer McLachlin of Punahou — a two-time Advertiser State Player of the Year — and Kamehameha's Jordan Inafuku, who shared Player of the Year honors in 2004 with Shoji.

"It's exciting, and we're happy to have them come up," Shoji said. "They are definitely going to help the team."

Kosty can't talk about Inafuku, but said McLachlin "will be a great, great addition" to the team.

"I try to recruit the best academic volleyball players, and right now Hawai'i has been very good to us," Kosty said. "I love recruiting Hawai'i players. They are talented players who know the game."

Shoji said school — like volleyball — has been "challenging and rewarding."

And like school, the transition to college volleyball has been one Shoji has been handling well.

"Even when players come out of high school with all the credentials, going into collegiate volleyball is a whole different level," Kosty said. "He's done a tremendous job."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.