THE volleyball bridge between Hawaii and Las Vegas has been spanned -- again. Williams takes hard-hitting style to UNLV
Former University of Hawaii All-American Kee Williams joined the UNLV coaching staff last month as the second assistant to another Wahine great, Lady Rebel head coach Deitre Collins. The Wahine connection, which includes a number of former island prep products on the roster, "is so weird," Williams said.
"I've only been in Las Vegas for 21/2 weeks, but I feel like I'm in Hawaii," added Williams, a Wahine middle blocker/hitter from 1991-94. "So many people have moved here from Hawaii, so many people who remember who I am. It is a little weird when you see all these local people and it makes you forget where you are."
At 26, Williams has apparently found herself. Since graduating from UH -- "I made sure I had that piece of paper," she said -- Williams has played professionally in Puerto Rico and Portugal and had a six-month stint with the U.S. national team.
The chronic knee problems that plagued her Wahine career finally caught up with the 6-foot-1 Williams. A few months ago, she had surgery on both knees. And she has put her national team hopes on hold while beginning her coaching resume.
"Being with the national team was really good," Williams said. "Then I had surgery. I tried to come back one, two, three, four. . . 10 times. But I wasn't feeling it. I heard Deitre was looking for a second assistant, gave her a call and here I am.
"I'm trying to work my way up the ladder -- second assistant, first assistant, head coach. I'm trying to get Dave's (Wahine coach Dave Shoji) job. I'm just joking about that, but eventually I'd like to go back and work in Hawaii."
WILLIAMS will return to the islands for the first time since 1995 as a coach for the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Summer Camp this August. While fans will recognize one of the heaviest hitters to ever pound a ball for Hawaii, Williams has matured and softened.
"She's turned into quite a lady," said Rainbow men's basketball coach Riley Wallace, who chatted with Williams during last week's WAC Basketball Tournament.
The product of a rough inner-city Los Angeles upbringing, Williams is still vibrantly honest. But the edges are not as sharp, the hard crust has flaked off a bit.
Just don't tell the Lady Rebels, who are afraid of going against Williams in practice.
"The players are scared to try to block her," Collins said with a laugh. "She hits even harder than when she was playing for UH.
"She's really good with our girls and she's going to be good for our program."
UNLV dropped women's volleyball in 1985 and brought Collins in to revive the sport in 1996. The Lady Rebels have not made it to the WAC Tournament in two seasons. One of their goals is to be playing at home when the tournament is again held at the MGM Grand Garden this Thanksgiving.
ANOTHER goal is to get listed in the Las Vegas telephone directory. Under the UNLV athletic department, there is no listing for women's volleyball.
Williams will help change that. A fighter with a heart of gold, she's never been one to go unnoticed for very long.
This stop is a good fit for Williams, who hopes to rejoin the national team in time for the 2000 Olympics in Australia.
"I'm taking at least this year off to start my coaching," said Williams, who takes her national assistant's test this week. "(U.S. coach) Mick Haley has left the door open for me to come back. My game has picked up three, four notches and I'm better all around. I'm a different player than I was in Hawaii. I hope the surgery has fixed everything. The doctor told me I had 80-year-old knees.
"Going back to play on the national team in 'Two Grand' (2000 Olympics) would be the icing on the cake. Then I can move on with the rest of my life."
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.