Friday, November 13, 1998
Wahine Roberts
waiting for time
to shine
The 6-2 junior has been
By Cindy Luis
the ultimate team player for
Wahine volleyball
Star-BulletinShe was the understudy to Angelica Ljungquist, the NCAA Player of the Year in 1996.
She was behind Cia Goods, the WAC Pacific Division Player of the Year in 1997.
This season, Hawaii junior Jenny Roberts is splitting time with senior captain Leah Karratti. Roberts has to be wondering when it will be her step-out year.
Actually, she doesn't worry about it. Roberts is satisfied to improve her game as a member of the seventh-ranked Wahine volleyball team and contribute when she's on the court.
"Volleyball is a team sport and as much as I love to serve, I don't even want to ask to play back row," Roberts said. "If my job's up front then my job's up front. We have two good players who can play back there in Leah and Tehani (Miyashiro). I can't get mad that I'm not playing. Leah's doing a great job. She's a great athlete. She's a senior. She should be playing."
Ironically, says Roberts, it's Karratti who is her biggest supporter.
"Even though we compete for a spot, we help each other out," Roberts said. "We let each other know what the opponent is doing, how she's hitting. We both know it's hard sitting on the bench. She's helped me a lot."
Roberts could be starting at a lot of other schools. The 6-foot-2 middle has quickness and athleticism that earned her letters in four sports (volleyball, basketball, swimming, track) at Calvary Chapel High School in Santa Ana, Calif.
Opposing coaches have commented on the extra dimension Roberts gives the Wahine. She leads the team -- and the WAC -- in hitting percentage (.424) and "she's been like a sideout machine for us," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "That's why she's in there, for her offense and her defense.
"Her arm swing has gotten a lot quicker and it's hard to stop her. You have to really be in the air to stop her, otherwise she's going to put the ball down. It all depends on what I think the teams needs at certain points as to whether Jenny or Leah is in there. They compliment each other well. I expect next year that Jenny could be in there on a permanent basis."
Roberts started Game 4 Tuesday against BYU-Hawaii, putting down three quick kills to help the Wahine to a 6-3 lead. She stayed with the Seasiders' hottest outside hitter, Andrea Gomez, and stuffed the 5-8 Gomez for Gomez' first hitting error in 20 swings.
Roberts finished with six kills on 13 swings with no errors. It was a typical night for the quiet junior who is averaging 2.18 kills a game.
Roberts said she had no trouble adjusting to Hawaii, from the warm weather to the food. A junior lifeguard and surfer, she declined a recruiting trip to Wisconsin because of the cold weather.
"And my grandparents love Chinese food so we learned to use chopsticks early," she said. "Now when I go home, my parents have to make sticky rice."
As hard as Roberts has worked at volleyball, she's worked even harder at studies. School has been a struggle due to two learning disabilities: dyslexia and comprehension deficiency.
"I always knew I had a learning problem but we couldn't afford to get me tested," Roberts said. "In January of 1997, through the Rainbow Advantage program, I had the tests done."
She takes medication to help with her concentration in the classroom and sometimes in practice. She has no problem, however, keeping her focus on this season.
"My focus is on the WAC Tournament," Roberts said. "We've made it to the finals the last two years and I want to win it this time, get our rings.
"I'm not looking past San Jose State (Nov. 20) or Fresno State (Nov. 21) but I see those as stepping stones. I think the win over BYU (last week) did so much for our confidence. I think we'll see them again in the WAC tournament and if we play like a final four team, we'll win again."
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
