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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:17 p.m., Friday, April 18, 2008

Ex-UH star Willoughby added to U.S. national volleyball team

Advertiser Staff

University of Hawaii three-time All-American Kim Willoughby has been added to the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, according to Team USA Head Coach "Jenny" Lang Ping.

With Willoughby, Hawaii now has five players who have a shot at making Olympics — Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, Heather Bown, Lindsey Berg, Therese Crawford and Willoughby.

Ah Mow-Santos, Bown and Berg already have played in the Olympics.

Willoughby was the 2003 American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Year, earning first-team All-America honors three times (2001-03).

She was also a three-time WAC Player of the Year and two-time Joe Kerney Award winner as the top athlete in the conference.

Willoughby holds six UH career records, in kills, kills per game, attempts, aces, digs and digs per game.

Her 5.92 kill per game average ranks third all-time in NCAA history, with her 2,598 career kills ranking sixth.

The Napoleonville, La., native recently completed her 2007-2008 professional season with Famila Chieri, a team in the top-tier Italian Serie A League.

She tallied 306 points for Chieri while playing in 73 sets within 21 matches. Willoughby ranked 12th in points per set at 4.19, while her 3.82 kill average was eighth-best in the league.