WAHINE VOLLEYBALL
UH’s Shoji wraps up recruiting
Friday the 13th brought nothing but good things for for Dave Shoji. The Hawaii women's volleyball coach not only got to see his son Kawika start for Stanford against the Warriors last night, he also wrapped up his recruiting for the year.
Yesterday, Shoji received the final paperwork on Punahou alumna Aneli Cubi-Otineru, a 5-11 outside hitter, and Stephanie Ferrell, a 6-1 outside hitter from Locke High in Los Angeles.
Cubi-Otinero (Punahou '05) redshirted last season at the College of Southern Idaho and will have three seasons of eligibility. She originally committed to Hawaii for the 2005 season but was not academically eligible.
"We're very pleased with our recruiting," Shoji said last night. "We wanted Aneli out of high school and we're happy to get her. She's the ball-control outside hitter that we need.
"In Stephanie and Aneli we have two players we feel can help us right away."
Hawaii will also add Stephanie Brandt, a 5-9 setter who started for UC Santa Barbara as a freshman last fall, to this fall's roster. Shoji earlier received letters of intent from Punahou senior Liz Ka'aihue, a 5-8 hitter anticipated to battle for starting libero, and 6-3 middle/hitter Amanda Simmons from Des Plaines, Ill.
Hawaii will open the season with the Aug. 24-26 ASICS Invitational with Michigan, Colorado State and Oregon.