Thursday, August 20, 1998
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
The Wahine have a blend of newcomers and returnees
that has come together nicely in the first week of practice.
A Tall Order
Size and versatility could bring
By Cindy Luis
the Wahine back to national
volleyball prominence
Star-BulletinTHE pieces are slowly fitting into the puzzle that makes up this year's University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball team.
It's definitely a jigsaw puzzle, with some jagged edges and some interchangeable pieces. But after seven straight days of practice, the picture is slowly taking shape.
"We've gotten a lot better in just a week of playing together," said sophomore hitter Jessica Sudduth. "We have a lot of ball control and people who can put the ball away. Now we just have to put it all together."
The tallest Wahine team in history has four players 6-feet-2 and over. Big is beautiful in the eyes of UH coach Dave Shoji . . . because the big girls can dig, too.
"We're so much more athletic at every position right now," said Shoji, beginning his 24th season. "Whether that transforms into wins I'm not sure. You never know until you line up against someone else.
"No doubt our team is a lot closer and they're on the same wave length."
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Junior Jennifer Roberts is one of four Wahine
players who are 6-foot-2 or taller.
The dissension and departures (five players) during the past few months have been sweated out of the Wahine. Two-a-days are melting the group into a playing unit."The team chemistry is awesome," Sudduth said. "It is a lot better than last year. Everyone seems to be on the same page.
"What's our trademark going to be? We'll block a lot of balls and dig a lot of balls. That's a good combination."
The athleticism translates into versatility and lineup variations. Shoji can go with a three-blocker lineup with Jenny Roberts (6-2), Heather Bown (6-3) and Veronica Lima (6-2). Lima also plays right-side hitter, which would move Heidi Ilustre and Leah Karratti from the right to the left.
"We've found out some things about our players during the last seven days," Shoji said. "For one thing, Leah and Heidi are not having problems when being moved from right to left.
"It's been a really good week I think. Things are going pretty well."
Shoji is happy with his setting situation. Senior Nikki Hubbert is setting the first team with sophomore Tehani Miyashiro on the second team.
"Nikki is vastly improved from last year and I think she'd be the first to admit that," Shoji said. "She's better defensively, a better blocker. I think people will be really happy with her."
And fans will see an improved Sudduth. The sophomore spent last month at the U.S. Olympic Training Center working out on the National B team.
"It was a little hard coming back here after five weeks of double days there," Sudduth said. "But it was good. I learned a lot and hopefully I will be able to take what I learned in Colorado and bring it here and contribute."
The countdown begins. Just nine days to go until the alumnae game on Aug. 29.
On Sept. 4, the Wahine open their regular season with the Hawaiian Airlines Classic. First up: longtime rival UCLA.
"We have the potential to be a pretty good team," Shoji said.
Better than last year's 25-8 record?
"Wait and see," he said.
1998 UH Wahine Volleyball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
