The 25th anniversary 'team:'
Twenty-five players who have helped make
the University of Hawaii the most popular
women's volleyball program in the country
By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin
VOLLEY this!
Who were the best? Who were the fan favorites? What players had the greatest impact?
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the University of Hawaii women's volleyball program, let's serve up these questions and select the 25 players who have helped make this the country's most popular volleyball program. It's sure to make for a better rally than any seen during the previous 793 matches the Wahine have played since volleyball become a women's varsity sport in 1974.
This is by no means meant to be the definitive list of top Hawaii volleyball players. After all, based on honors alone, the pukas would be all but filled: 24 Wahine have earned All-America status.
That alone is pretty impressive considering that, entering this season, only 107 women have worn the Wahine uniform. That's 22 percent. And through 1996, there has been at least one all-American -- past, present or future -- on the court every season.
Where to begin? There's only one way -- alphabetically.
No. 1: Robyn Ah Mow, 1993-96. Magic, pure and simple. Might be the best setter ever to wear the Green and White, certainly one of the top three. Team went 36-4 her last two seasons. Two-time All-American.
No. 2: Reydan 'Tita' Ahuna, 1984-87. The heart and soul of the 1987 national championship team. One of the best all-around players ever, despite being only 5-foot-8. One of only three Wahine to amass 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. All-time UH dig leader (1,384).
No. 3: Cheri Boyer, 1988-91. Another in a long line of great setters. Ranks third all-time in assists, and is one of three to reach 4,000 assists. Perhaps the best blocking setters ever at UH. Two-time All-American. Highest assists-per-game average.
No. 4: Nahaku Brown, 1978-81. Great hands. Great serve. Setter for the top-ranked team that was upset in the '81 regional final.
No. 5: Martina Cincerova, 1985-88: Fought off several challengers to become one of the premier setters in the program's history. Wahine finished first in 1987, second in 1988, but Cincerova was overlooked for first-team All-America honors both years. Settled for second team both times. All-time UH assist leader.
No. 6: Deitre Collins, 1980-83: The only volleyball player ever to win the Broderick Cup as the top female college athlete in the country. One of three Wahine to record 1,000 kills and 500 blocks in a career. Three-time All-American. Starting middle blocker for the U.S. in the 1988 Olympics.
No. 7: Suzanne Eagye, 1984-87. The only Wahine with 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs and 500 blocks in a career. The all-time UH block leader (743). Two-time All-American with 1,000-watt smile. PCAA Player of the Year. Part of the Fab Four (Ahuna, Eleneki, Jessie) who ended their four years with a 37-2 record and the 1987 national title. Most matches (140) and most games (478) played in a career at UH.
No. 8: Mahina Eleneki, 1984-87. The "Little Wahine Who Could." Listed at 5-7, but played much bigger, tooling the block with the best of them. Top 10 in career assists, aces and digs. Inspirational member of the 1987 championship team.
No. 9: Malin Fransson, 1989-91: Part of the best Wahine teams never to get to the Final Four, losing to Long Beach State in the regionals three consecutive years. The third foreign national to play for Hawaii. A solid all-around player. Sent her star club player -- Angelica Ljungquist -- to the Wahine.
No. 10: Cheryl Grimm, 1976-79. Gritty and gutsy. A terrific all-around athlete. Hated to lose and let you know it.
No. 11: Diana Jessie, 1984-87. A basketball player who molded herself into an All-American by her senior year. Part of Fab Four, which ended years of frustration against Pacific with an emotional win in the regional final in Klum Gym. UH won the NCAA title a week later.
No. 12: Joyce Kapuaala Kaapuni, 1974, '76, '82-83. Longevity says it all. Came back after a five-year layoff to lead the Wahine to consecutive titles. All-American in the AIAW and NCAA. As good as Ah Mow, maybe better.
No. 13: Angelica Ljungquist, 1993-96. The only four-time All-American player and academic All-American. National Player of the Year in 1996. Top 3 nationally in kills and blocks. One of three Wahine to reach 1,000 kills and 500 blocks. Top 6 in kills, aces, blocks and digs.
No. 14: Terry Malterre, 1975-79. Dave Shoji's first scholarship athlete when he took over the program. Co-captain of the 1979 championship team. Dominating middle hitter.
No. 15: Beth McLachlin, 1974-75, '77. Key player in Hawaii's rise as a national power. All-American who left for a season to play for U.S. national team.
No. 16: Toni Nishida, 1988-91. Power and grace. Ultimate team player. Top 10 in block assists and total blocks.
No. 17: Kris and Kori Pulaski, 1980-83. Hard to separate the twins who were 104-5 in their last three seasons, winning two national titles. Kori is in the Top 10 in kills, Kris in ace average.
No. 18: Joselyn Robins, 1993-96. Another self-made player with some of the best "hops" in the country. Popular with fans of all ages.
No. 19: Diane Sebastian, 1978-81. Shoji's first big-time mainland recruit. Still ranks among career leaders in block solos and hitting percentage. Three-time All-American.
No. 20: Lisa Strand, 1981-84. Big block, big serve. No. 2 in aces
No. 21: Karrie Trieschman, 1987-90. Two-time All-American. Big West Player of the Year in 1990. Began stellar career as a freshman on the 1987 title team. Top 10 in kills and blocks. Rising beach doubles star.
No. 22: Teee Williams, 1987-89. An impact player from the moment she stepped on the court. Two-time national player of the year, three-time All-American and an Olympian. Played a major role in Hawaii's 55-match home winning streak. All-time leader in kills, kill attempts and kill average. Top 10 in NCAA history in four categories. Team went 99-8 in her three years.
No. 23: Jenny Wilton, 1991-92, '94-95. Overcame multiple injuries to captain the 1995 team that went 31-1. Tough competitor.
No. 24: Missy Yomes, 1980-83. Another of the Magnificent Seven, who closed out their careers with back-to-back titles. Overlooked but seldom outplayed.
No. 25: Fill in this blank.
How about the tremendous back-row players who were the heart of Hawaii's trademark defense? Nalani Yamashita had coach Dave Shoji rethinking the position; Naomi Higa, Jaime Paet and Stephanie Shota redefined it.
How could certain players not be mentioned? Rocky Elias, Bonnie Gouveia, Paula Gusman, Waynette Mitchell and Diana McInerny were seniors on Hawaii's first national championship team in 1979. McInerny set during the national tournament, when co-captain and All-American Elias went down with an ankle injury.
Surely Therese Crawford, Cia Goods, Lee Ann Pestana and Sista Palakiko deserve mention. As do Sarah Chase, Kenyatta Lovelace, Mary Robins, Anna Vorwerk, Marcie Wurts and Kee Williams.
Perhaps leaving No. 25 open is a cop-out. But every player who has ever worn a Wahine uniform deserves to be noted. And they are.
Quarter-Century Club
Dave Shoji, in his 25th year as the Hawaii head coach,
compiled a 658-133-1 record in 24 seasons.
Year -- Record
1997 -- 25-8
1996 -- 35-3
1995 -- 31-1
1994 -- 25-5
1993 -- 19-11
1992 -- 15-12
1991 -- 26-5
1990 -- 28-6
1989 -- 29-3
1988 -- 33-3
1987 -- 37-2
1986 -- 31-7
1985 -- 28-13
1984 -- 33-11
1983 -- 34-2
1982 -- 33-1
1981 -- 37-2
1980 -- 34-10
1979 -- 36-5
1978 -- 28-10-1
1977 -- 22-5
1976 -- 14-5
1975 -- 16-2
1974 -- 9-1
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