[ WAHINE VOLLEYBALL ]
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Kamana‘o
is UH’s rock
Sophomore setter Kanoe
Kamana'o is the only returning
starter in tonight's opener
Change is constant. That's a given.
Change is good. That's often debatable.
And when it comes to the changes in this year's edition of the Hawaii women's volleyball team ... well, there's already a reality show on TV.
It's called "Extreme Makeover."
But to the one constant in the Rainbow Wahine lineup -- sophomore setter Kanoe Kamana'o, change is inevitable. It starts tonight when No. 13 Hawaii hosts Eastern Washington in the opener of the Hawaiian Airlines Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Kamana'o had to grow up fast last season as the lone freshman starter on a senior-laden, All-American-heavy team. She more than survived, earning her own All-American hardware as well as the National Freshman of the Year.
This season will be as challenging with the learning curve just as steep.
In 2003, Kamana'o had two terminators on offense to go to when needing a critical, automatic kill in Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku. "High and outside" bailed out the Wahine in nearly every situation.
Tonight, the offense will be more diverse, quicker, less predictable and likely less efficient. Kamana'o, surrounded by five new starters, is eager to get started.
"Definitely, my role has changed," she said. "It's gone from me being the freshman, guided by all the seniors, to me helping the other five people on the court feel more comfortable.
"It's a whole different team this year. And I like the faster offense. It's not that last year was boring, but we'll be running our middles a lot more and trying to distribute the ball more evenly to all the hitters."
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Willoughby and Kahumoku finished their careers Nos. 1 and 3 on the UH all-time kill list. The two had more than 50 percent of the team's kills, and their efficiency helped Kamana'o to already become the career leader in assists per game (13.58).
"She's grown in subtle ways," said coach Dave Shoji. "She's much stronger and quicker. It might not be noticeable to most people, but I can tell. She's worked very hard on her physical stature.
"She's also not only going to be more vocal but she'll have to change the plays just about every time. Last year, it was pretty much do what the hitters wanted her to do. This year, the hitters are going to do what she tells them to do. As the season progresses, she'll be more confident in what she's doing."
But Kamana'o isn't thinking about last year, other than to say that the goal is to repeat the success and earn another final-four berth. It's possible, she says, but it's going to take hard work and communication.
A lot of hard work. A lot of communication.
"For me, I have to start talking more," said the 2003 Iolani School graduate. "This is a quiet team and we all have to talk more.
"My role has changed in that I wasn't the leader out there last year. I just set things up on the court. This year, I have to do more and make sure we stay steady. We will have to compete a lot harder and, at times, our youth will be showing."
Shoji will open his 30th season tonight with one of the youngest lineups in terms of experience. Senior captain Melody Eckmier played sparingly in the middle last year (23 games out of 125), and middle Juliana Sanders is a redshirt freshman.
Junior hitter Susie Boogaard got into 69 games, sophomore hitter Alicia Arnott 63 and junior hitter Victoria Prince sat out last season after transferring from Washington State. Junior libero Ashley Watanabe backed up all-conference Melissa Villaroman, playing in 61 games.
What Kamana'o likes is the change in chemistry, with everyone pushing for a starting spot.
"Everyone has been working hard and we can be young and learn together," Kamana'o said. "A lot of the freshmen came in early, showed up in the beginning of summer to be together and to work.
"Last year, people expected a lot of the team. Being (ranked) No. 13 is a good place for us to start. It will push us to get to the top. Realistically, we have a lot of potential and the season is just starting. We have the time to get better."
Eckmier has seen Kamana'o get better, during her freshman season as well as since spring practice.
"She was great last year and I expect nothing less from her this year," Eckmier said. "She has worked really hard on spreading the offense. And she is getting pushed by Cayley (sophomore backup setter Thurlby). Everyone is getting pushed to work harder and get better."
The time has gone quickly, Kamana'o said, since the Wahine lost to Florida on Dec. 18 in the NCAA Tournament semifinal. She's looking forward to being back out under the bright lights of the Sheriff Center.
"I'm excited to get back out there," she said. "I think there was more pressure for me last year because of the high expectations. I was really nervous the first game. But seeing the thousands of fans when you come out of the tunnel ... it gets you so pumped up.
"This team is a lot of fun. There's a lot of smiles going around. Last year was more serious, it was the last chance for the seniors. This year, we have to work our way up, but I think it will be a lot of fun. We're ready to face the challenge."
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uhathletics.hawaii.edu
