Friday, August 27, 1999

Wahine alumnae
return tomorrow

About 30 former UH volleyball
players will play a match before
the 1999 edition makes its official
debut in a scrimmage

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

And let's not even talk about the knees.

When the former Wahine volleyball players get together to prepare for the alumnae match, there's plenty of tape and Tylenol to go around. One thing that doesn't get old, however, is the camaraderie.

"It's always good just to see everyone," said Lisa Strand Ma'a (1981-84), who will be sitting out tomorrow's annual event. Ma'a, expecting her third child in November, is one of the managers for the Green alumnae team.

Some 30 past Wahine players are expected to participate in the alumnae exhibition that precedes the varsity Green-White scrimmage. The alumnae represent the club days prior to 1974 as well as the 25 years of collegiate competition, including players from each of the four national championship teams (1979, '82, '83 and '87).

Dominating the alumnae rosters are members of Hawaii's first title team in 1979. Seven of the 12 players from that squad are expected to be on the court tomorrow.

Last night's practice was held in muggy Gym I, which had players reminiscing about the "good old days" in Klum Gym. The hardest part wasn't hitting or passing - those were automatic - it was getting everyone to quit talking so that practice could start.

"I just love seeing this happen," said Beth McLachlin (1974-77), coach of the Green team. "I think we come more to hear Cheryl (Grimm) tell jokes.

"When we first started playing (collegiately in 1974), we didn't know where it was headed. All we knew was it was a great sport, a great game to watch and thought it would just be a matter of time before the public caught on. We never dreamed back then that it would become what it has."

It has become the most popular women's volleyball program in the country, leading the nation in attendance each of the past four seasons. Some 5,000 are expected at the Sheriff Center tomorrow for the first official glimpse of the 1999 Wahine team.

Led by Player of the Year candidate Heather Bown, Hawaii returns six players from a team that finished 32-3 and one game short of the final four.

Wahine volleyball What: Green-White alumnae match, Green-White varsity scrimmage. When: Tomorrow, alumnae match at 6 p.m., followed by varsity scrimmage at 7:30 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center. Broadcasts: None. Tickets: $5 students, $8 seniors (upper level) and $9 adults (upper level).