Friday, October 1, 1999
Coin made the
call for Carey...
well, sort of
Freshman starting setter
Jennifer Carey flipped a coin to
choose Hawaii as her college,
but the match was more
than mere luckWAHINE PLAYBOOK
By Cindy Luis
Star-BulletinIt was a flip of a coin.
Seriously.
That's how Jennifer Carey chose to play for the Hawaii women's volleyball team over Penn State.
Heads, Hawaii. Tails ... Hawaii, too.
"I did flip a coin but I pretty much knew it would be Hawaii either way,'' said Carey, the 6-foot-1 Wahine freshman setter. "I just decided one day that I wanted the whole recruiting process to be over with and I wanted to make my decision.
"My mom and I talked about what I really wanted out of my college experience and what would fit me the best. I made my decision and have never looked back. I love our team. This feels right.''
Carey is the first freshman setter to start since first-year players Martina Cincerova and Melinda Beckenhauer battled over the position in 1985. Beckenhauer transferred after her first season; Cincerova went on to lead Hawaii to the 1987 NCAA title and a runner-up finish in 1988.
Ironically, it will be Hawaii's other freshman setter - Margaret Vakasausau - who will be starting tonight against Texas Christian in the WAC opener for both teams. Carey, who says she's always wanted to be a cheerleader, will have a chance to do just that from the sidelines.
Carey was held out of practice all week with an inflamed right toe and is wearing a walking boot for protection. The injury that she describes as a "turf toe'' jam normally associated with football has bothered her since the Wahine were in double-day practices in August.
"It's a hard role for me, I haven't sat much in my career,'' said the prep all-American from Newport Harbor (Calif.) High. "But I have all the confidence in the world in Margaret. She'll do a great job.''
Vakasausau as the starting setter nearly was the permanent solution for this year. Junior Tehani Miyashiro, the backup last season to Nikki Hubbert, left the program and many believed Carey was headed to UCLA.
But Bruin coach Andy Banachowski said he was out of scholarships and asked her to walk on. Carey surprised him by calling Hawaii coach Dave Shoji.
"I was raised to be a Bruin, I was going to their games forever,'' said Carey. "It was more of a shock than being hurt when I didn't get a scholarship.
"It was the best thing to happen for me, but I didn't find that out until I got here and found out how much I belonged in Hawaii.''
Against the Bruins last month, Carey had Banachowski shaking his head over the player he let slip away. She had 42 assists, was in on four blocks and had six kills (.500) and 10 digs in Hawaii's 3-1 victory over UCLA.
"We're certainly glad we have Jen in our program,'' said Shoji. "Let's just say it was a pleasant surprise when she accepted the scholarship. You never know about a recruit until they actually commit.
"We knew she could play. Playing in big games doesn't faze her. It's more of the location and technique that she has to work on. I think she's more than done the job that we've needed her to do.''
Carey has led the Wahine to a No. 3 ranking and an 11-0 record. She has seven double-doubles (assists and digs) in 11 outings, leads the team in digs and is second in the WAC in assist average.
"If there is a freshman in the country who could step in and set for a high-level Division I program, it would be Jennifer,'' said former Rainbow men's player Tom Pestolesi, an assistant coach at Carey's high school. "She's an awesome player.''
Both of Carey's parents are former players, dad George on the beach, mom Becky at UC Irvine. Both parents also coached, so "I grew up in the gym,'' said Carey. "I couldn't wait to play. I'd see the girls get their hair braided before a game, saw how sharp they looked in their uniform and saw how much fun they were having.
"I saw how much fun it was to win after working so hard and how bad it was to lose.''
Carey made the varsity as a freshman but played behind current Loyola Marymount setter Jeannette Hecker her first season. Carey led the Sailors to two consecutive CIF titles as a junior and a senior, and was named the CIF player of the year as a senior.
"I've always been a setter,'' she said. "I don't care that much for hitting. I get a bigger thrill out of putting up a good set and watching my teammate put down a kill.
"I play volleyball because it's a team sport and I like the focus on the team, not me.''
And Hawaii is working out well for Carey on and off the court.
"There were five things I looked for when I looked for a college: academics, athletics, location, size and student life. This feels right.''
Carey would eventually like to go into sports marketing, sports contract law or being a sports agent. Right now, the focus is bringing her team home for the final four in December.
"It does take a lot of guts to come all the way out here to play, but once you get here, it feels like it's family. Coming here was the easy answer to a difficult decision.''
How hard could it have been. Heads, Hawaii. Tails, Hawaii.
WAHINE PLAYBOOK
vs. TCU & Fresno State
Schedule-Tonight: Texas Christian ((6-8), 7 p.m. Sunday: Fresno State (6-7), 5 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.
By Cindy Luis, Star-Bulletin
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Ka Leo O Hawaii
