WAHINE VOLLEYBALL
Another junior commits to play for Rainbow Wahine
The start of the 2006 season is still months away, but the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team continues to get a jump-start on 2007.
The Wahine received another oral commitment from a high school junior. Amanda Simmons, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker from Des Plaines, Ill., has already decorated her bedroom with Hawaii paraphernalia, according to her mother.
"Amanda is thrilled and honored to play for UH in 2007," Evelyn Simmons said. "She is so pumped and excited to play at the collegiate level.
"She can't wait to attend the UH volleyball camp in August."
Amanda met most of the current Hawaii team last month when Hawaii competed at the Loyola 3 Wise Men Tournament in Chicago. The 17-year-old was unavailable for comment as she was in Baltimore with her Club Fusion team competing in the Northeast Qualifier for this summer's Junior Olympics in Minneapolis.
Club Fusion is one of the elite junior volleyball programs in the Midwest. According to the club's Web site, Simmons touches 10 feet with a standing touch of 7-8 and a blocking touch of 9-3.
She is also an honor student at Elk Grove High, reportedly with a GPA of 5.25 (which includes Advanced Placement grades), and an interest in studying medicine. Simmons has won numerous academic and athletic awards, and recently helped Fusion Black to a first-place finish in the 17-Open division at the Mideast Qualifier in Indianapolis.
"We're a small family -- Amanda is my only child," Evelyn Simmons said. "But we're very excited to join a huge family. I know she's in good hands with her new Hawaii family."
Simmons is the second junior to orally commit to Hawaii. The other is Punahou outside hitter Liz Ka'aihue.
Oral commitments are non-binding. The national letter of intent is binding; early signing period for women's volleyball begins Nov. 8.
Hawaii coach Dave Shoji is not allowed to discuss a recruit until she has formally signed.