Heidi Ilustre is one of the Wahine's top passers and
always an upbeat force. By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

She's among the best passers on the No. 1 team in the country.

She's already mastered a wicked jump serve and is fearless when it comes to hitting from the 3-meter line on a back-row attack.

And she's only a freshman.

What does Hawaii women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji like about Heidi Ilustre?

"All of the above," said Shoji, whose top-ranked team takes on No. 21 Notre Dame tonight and tomorrow. "Heidi has excellent all-around skills. She's as good as anyone we have passing. What's nice is she's gaining more confidence hitting in the front row and is jumping higher and stronger than (at) the start of the season.

"She hits her jumper very consistently. Her back-row attack means another weapon for us. But more than that, she's a real team player."

Her Wahine teammates agree the 5-foot-11 Ilustre has a killer smile and an arm swing to match. Plus it's been "Team First" from Day 1 for the first-team Junior All-American out of Carson, Calif.

"Most of the time, she doesn't show a lot of emotion, but she's always positive,"said Hawaii junior left-side hitter Therese Crawford. "She's got great back-row skills and has been working very hard. She's going to be a great player."

Ilustre brought some impressive credentials from her prep and club careers: first-team all-CIF as a junior and senior, and Del Rey League two-time MVP; Bishop Montgomery High won the California Division II championship her sophomore year and her Nike-Ichiban Volleyball Club was the gold-medal winner at the U.S. Junior Olympics in 1993 and 1996.

But nothing compares to being in a Wahine uniform. Ilustre says the attention is overwhelming at times, particularly when she's at the mall and asked for an autograph, or she receives e-mail from fans she's never met.

"I love the crowd, love playing in front of a big crowd, but it does take getting used to," said Ilustre. "I remember on my recruiting trip how awesome the (Special Events) Arena was.

"Volleyball is so big here compared to California and I really didn't expect this much attention my first year. It's a little weird getting flowers and e-mail. People are so into volleyball here. My parents are happy, but when they came out a few weeks ago, they were very surprised when they saw me signing autographs."

Heavily recruited by Florida, Arizona and Washington, Hawaii was Ilustre's top choice from almost the first time she touched a volleyball in eighth grade.

"I always wanted to come here because it's a great program," she said. "I thought I'd be homesick. I'm very close to my family and my Daddy calls almost every night. But I feel at home here and would love to live here after graduation. It's beautiful, I love the beach and boogie-boarding."

Last Monday, one of Illustre's Nike-Ichiban teammates verbally committed to Hawaii: Jameka Stevens, a 5-11 left-side hitter from Olympia, Wash., named a third-team All-American at last summer's Junior Olympics.

"It will be fun to play with Heidi again," said Stevens, whose twin siblings, Jason and Janeal, attend Brigham Young-Hawaii. "Heidi brings out the best in everybody. She always has a smile, is such a pumper-upper on the court."

Stevens can't officially sign until February but it brings to two the number of Fab 50 blue-chippers who have verbally agreed to play for Hawaii next season. Last Friday, Jessica Sudduth, a 6-2 left-side hitter and two-time Junior All-American, said she was also heading to Manoa.

Wanting to add something to her game, Ilustre developed her jump serve in high school. It made its collegiate debut Oct 11 against Wyoming.

"I'd have to say that's my favorite memory so far this season," said Ilustre, who has 11 aces, the most for any non-Wahine starter. "I didn't bring it out sooner because I didn't have enough confidence. It does surprise people."

Ilustre, who is Filipina-Chinese, said she feels she fits right in with Hawaii's ethnic mixed plate. She has but one regret about being 2,500 miles from home.

"I really miss my mother's special spicy lumpia," said Ilustre. "Our last road trip, my mother brought some to the airport and it was great."

When: Tomorrow and Friday: No. 21 Notre Dame (13-6) at No. 1 Hawaii (20-0), 7:10 p.m.
Where: Special Events Arena.
Broadcasts: Live on KFVE-TV (Channel 5) and KCCN (1420-AM) both nights.