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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, July 20, 2007

Kamehameha's Torres will head to UOP in '08

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Rebekah Torres

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Volleyball's fast-forward recruiting claimed another Hawai'i player.

Rebekah Torres, who will be a senior at Kamehameha, said yesterday she has verbally committed to University of the Pacific. The Tigers are coached by former University of Hawai'i associate Charlie Wade.

"My biggest concern was I wanted to go away and experience going away," Torres said. "I previously knew Charlie because he was supposed to be the coach of our club ('Imi 'Ike). I felt real comfortable going to play for him. I knew what type of person he was."

Wade took the job at UOP last year. The Tigers went 8-21, but return every starter from that basically brand-new team. UOP won national championships in 1985 and '86 and was a perennial NCAA Tournament threat until fading the past few years.

"Charlie talked to me about how last season was not that great," said Torres, who had narrowed her choices to Nevada, UNLV and Hawai'i (as a walk-on). "They had a few injured players and they'll be better now. It doesn't really matter to me about last year. I want to go into the program and improve the program. That's more rewarding."

Wade is rebuilding, in part, with Hawai'i players. Kamehameha graduate Dancyne Kama and Punahou graduate Carly Hiromoto will be sophomores for the Tigers this fall. Both are listed as setters.

Wade is also interested in the 5-foot-10 Torres, who won a "Best Attacker" award at the 2005 Junior Olympics, at that position.

"He told me he wanted me to be a hitter at first and and slowly get reps at setting," said Torres, who last played setter two years ago. "When I feel comfortable enough I'll try setting."

Student-athletes in the 2008 graduating class cannot sign a letter of intent until November, but Torres is the third junior on The Advertiser's 2006-2007 All-State first team to commit. Two-time Player of the Year Kanani Herring — Torres' teammate at Kamehameha — said she will play for UH in 2008. Punahou libero Sydney Yogi is headed to Texas.

Torres had 14 kills and 10 digs in the Warriors' win over Punahou in last year's state final. Kamehameha has won the past two state titles, and has eight seniors on this year's roster.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

STOLFUS AND TEAMMATE BEATEN BY PUERTO RICO

Former University of Hawai'i player Hans Stolfus and partner Ty Loomis lost their final first-round match yesterday at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Stolfus and Loomis fell to Joseph Gil and Joaquin Acosta de la Rosa of Puerto Rico, 23-21, 15-21, 15-8, to drop to 2-1.

Serving was a problem area for Loomis and Stolfus, with 11 missed serves compared to four by Puerto Rico. Stolfus had 10 kills and three digs.

The U.S. enters quarterfinal play today against Uruguay. Quarterfinals and semifinals are single elimination.