10 Memorable Shoji Firsts ...

        ... WIN
       

Hawaii's inaugural season under Dave Shoji had no home matches and seven playing dates. There also was no height on the 10-member roster, with 5-foot-11 Terry Malterre at least 4 inches taller than the rest of her teammates.

The Wahine opened at UC Riverside on Oct. 29, 1975, turning back the host Highlanders, 15-17, 15-6, 15-13, 15-11.

That first road trip included the NIVT at UCLA, where the Wahine dropped their first match of the season to the host Bruins. Hawaii didn't lose again until falling to UCLA six weeks later 15-11, 15-12 in the AIAW championship match in Princeton, N.J.

... HOME WIN

It was historic, that victory in Klum Gym on Sept. 25, 1976.

The Wahine opened the season with two losses to UCLA in as many days and at as many sites. The first in four in a time-limit match at the Blaisdell Arena, the second in five at War Memorial Gym on Maui.

The third time was a charm. Hawaii rallied to beat UCLA—and coach Andy Banachowski, above—for the first time in six meetings, 8-15, 15-10, 9-15, 15-12, 15-3. The Bruins got their revenge 10 weeks later when downing the Wahine 15-11, 10-15, 15-11 for the AIAW title.

It remains the longest running rivalry for Hawaii, which holds a 35-32 series lead.

... ALL-AMERICANS

The landscape was different for women's collegiate athletics in the years prior to becoming part of the NCAA. The AIAW season ran in the fall, with many schools also sending teams to the USVBA open championship in the spring.

Senior Joey Akeo, left, and sophomore Terry Malterre, right, were collegiate All-America picks in 1977—the first of 34 for Shoji. That year, UH lost to USC 12-15, 15-6, 15-7, 15-6 for the AIAW championship.

“;I think the players all knew that this was the beginning of something great,”; said Akeo, who was the first Wahine to have a daughter play for Shoji (Tehani Miyashiro 1997-98).

... NATIONAL TITLE

From its first year as a college program (1974), Hawaii had been successful, with two second-place finishes and three thirds. The senior-laden Wahine finally broke through in 1979, rallying past nemesis and defending AIAW champ Utah State, 8-15, 7-15, 15-9, 16-14, 15-12, in Carbondale, Ill.

Bonnie Gouveia had an ace, Waynette Mitchell put down two kills and Terry Malterre added a block and a kill to gain match point at 14-8. The Aggies closed to 14-12, but the Wahine got a kill by Gouveia to give Shoji the first of his four championships. Mitchell, Malterre, Angie Andrade and Diane Sebastian were all-tourney picks.

... MAJOR RECRUIT

Diane Sebastian came in as the program's first legitimate mainland recruit and left a three-time All-American. She was in love with Hawaii before her scholarship offer, having played in a tournament in Honolulu while in high school.

“;It came down to Hawaii and UCLA,”; she said. “;I have no regrets. At UCLA, I would have been just one of a thousand athletes, not the focus of an entire state.

“;I still remember the sweet Hawaiian ladies bringing us sushi. I was a haole girl expecting chocolate chip cookies.”;

She also met her future husband during her career: UH men's player Tom Pestolesi.

... CONFERENCE TITLE

Eleven years as an independent brought three national titles but also the realization Hawaii would need to be in a conference. The Wahine joined the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, later renamed the Big West Conference, in 1985.

An intense rivalry with Pacific was born with Hawaii finally getting the upper hand in 1987, not only with the conference championship but also a huge regional final win over the Tigers that propelled the Wahine into the final four.

No one epitomized the fighting spirit more than captain Reydan “;Tita”; Ahuna, a two-time All-America honoree who remains in the top 10 of five career categories.

... NATIONAL PLAYER OF YEAR

Few players had the same impact as Tonya “;Teee”; Williams, the dynamic outside hitter who was named the NCAA Player of the Year her first season as a Wahine (1987). Although Hawaii's last national title team was heavy with senior starters, Williams was the star as a sophomore. In the final against Stanford, she had 21 kills, hit .386 and had 13 digs. A three-time All-American, Williams shared co-player of the year honors in 1989 with Long Beach State's Tara Cross. Williams was 99-8 in her three seasons and was the career leader in kills (1,973) until being passed by Kim Willoughby.

... NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF YEAR

Hawaii's setters have always been known for “;sweet hands,”; and Kanoe Kamana'o had two of the sweetest, carrying on the legacy established by the likes of Joyce Ka'apuni, Nahaku Brown and Robyn Ah Mow. As a freshman in 2003 she had the Wahine back in the final four, a 36-2 season ending with a semifinal loss to Florida. Kamana'o is one of two four-time All-America honorees in Hawaii history—the other being middle blocker and 1996 National Player of the Year Angelica Ljungquist. Kamana'o became UH's all-time career leader as a junior, finishing with 6,428, and ranks No. 7 all-time in the NCAA.

... BRODERICK CUP WINNER

Deitre Collins, who anchored the middle for the two-time NCAA champions (1982-83), was recognized as the top female athlete in college athletics in 1983. In leading the Wahine to back-to-back titles, Collins had 25 kills and seven blocks in the five-set win over USC in the 1982 title match, and 16 kills and eight blocks in the sweep of UCLA in 1983. Hawaii was 104-5 in her final three years and Collins was an All-American in all of them. She ranks in the top 10 of six career categories. Collins went on to play in two Olympics and is in her first year as San Diego State coach.

... TRIPLE THREAT CLUB

Middle blocker Suzanne Eagye was a raw talent as a freshman who blossomed into one of the best all-around players by her senior season (1987). With a killer smile that matched her armswing, Eagye is the only Wahine to be in three statistical clubs for the program: 1,000 kills (1,553) 1,000 digs (1,138) and 500 blocks (743). The all-time block leader remains in the top 10 in seven career categories. The two-time All-American won the 1987 Honda Award as the top volleyball player in the country. She had a triple-double in the 1987 NCAA title match with 10 kills, 12 digs and 12 blocks.