Saturday, July 31, 1999
Wahine middle
blocker to transfer
Less than two weeks before fall
By Cindy Luis
camp, Adrianne Bradley announces
she wishes to move closer to
her home in Utah
Star-BulletinA dozen days before the opening of fall camp, Adrianne Bradley has decided to leave the University of Hawaii women's volleyball team.
The 6-foot-2 middle blocker has been given her release and intends to transfer to Utah.
Bradley, the younger sister of Shawn Bradley of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, told Wahine coach Dave Shoji on Thursday that she wanted to be closer to home. She is from Castle Dale, Utah, about an hour's drive from Salt Lake City.
"I'm disappointed even though I understand her reasons," said Shoji, who opens practice Aug. 10. "I thought she was close to making a significant contribution to our team. She worked very hard in spring to be a big contributor.
"I think she's making a big mistake. Her decision totally came from left field. I knew she had a rough first year, making the adjustment to Hawaii, but she trained with the team through June. We're basically a week away from starting the season."
Bradley, who played sparingly in 24 matches last year, is the second player to leave the Hawaii team.
Backup setter Tehani Miyashiro, a Fab 50 Freshman Volleyball magazine pick in 1998, has transferred to Chaminade. The Punahou School product has been used as a defensive specialist and backup setter; she's expected to be a right-side hitter and backup setter for the Silverswords.
"I wish Tehani much success and I think she'll do well at Chaminade," said Shoji.
Bradley was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Her departure leaves the Wahine with three returning middles -- seniors Heather Bown and Jennifer Roberts, and sophomore Veronica Lima.
Shoji said he has added transfer Tanja Nikolic to the roster. Nikolic, a 6-foot sophomore middle, is originally from Croatia and played at Oregon last season.
Another transfer is 5-8 hitter Andrea Gomez Tukuafu, an All-American hitter from Brigham Young-Hawaii. The incoming junior married Rainbow volleyball player Torry Tukuafu last spring.
Filling out the 13-player roster is 5-8 hitter Syrina Makainai, a freshman walk-on from Maryknoll School. Returning off a redshirt year is 5-8 hitter Aven Lee.
"I think we're a real solid team," said Shoji.
Hawaii hosts the NCAA national volleyball championship Dec. 16-18 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Wahine open the season at Cal on Sept. 1 then host the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic, Sept. 3-6, featuring Pitt, Minnesota and UCLA.
The Wahine have also received two non-binding verbal commitments from incoming high school seniors this week, the earliest commitments the program has ever received.
The first is Lauren Duggins, a 6-foot middle blocker from Fullerton (Calif.) Union High whose mother was raised in Windward Oahu. The other is Kim Willoughby, a 5-11 hitter from Napoleonville, La., who is currently training with the U.S. junior national team.
The Wahine finished 32-3 last season, one game away from the final four. They return six players from a team that lost to Florida, 3-2, in the regional final: seniors Bown, Roberts, Heidi Ilustre and Shelly Kim; junior Jessica Sudduth; and sophomore Lima.
Comprising Hawaii's stellar freshman class are high school All-Americans Jennifer Carey, a setter from California, and hitter Lily Kahumoku out of Kamehameha Schools. Also coming in is Margaret Vakasausau, a hitter-setter from UH Lab School.
http://www.kaleo.org
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
