Tuesday, November 23, 1999
Lee hopes
Wahine season has
heavenly finish
She's put in a lot of hard
work to be part of the UH
women's volleyball teamWAHINE PLAYBOOK
By Cindy Luis
Star-BulletinHer parents wanted to call her "Heaven'' but Heaven Lee (heavenly) would have sounded too cute.
Instead, Aven Lee picked up the "H'' her parents dropped and wears it on her uniform as a member of the third-ranked Hawaii women's volleyball team.
It's a source of pride for Lee to be a Wahine and follow in the footsteps of her aunt, All-American Joey Akeo Miyashiro. Lee has worked hard, not only to make the team as a walk-on but to also make the grade in school.
Lee, a defensive specialist, should have been part of the senior class that will be honored at tonight's final home match with San Jose State. The 1996 Kamehameha Schools graduate came into the program four years ago with current seniors Heidi Ilustre and Jennifer Roberts.
But Lee struggled with school, left for a semester, then red-shirted last season while working at regaining her playing eligibility. The hard work paid off - she earned the necessary credits as well as a volleyball scholarship.
"She worked really hard to get back on the court and back in school,'' said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji. "I don't know many people who would have stuck it out like she did.''
Lee had options to play elsewhere but she wanted to stay home and compete in front of her family.
"When I was small, I played all sports, soccer, baseball, basketball,'' said Lee, a three-sport athlete at Kamehameha. "But my mom played volleyball, my aunty played volleyball and then I started playing and that was it.''
Lee and first cousin Tehani Miyashiro began playing on teams coached by their mothers - sisters Ingrid Akeo Lee and Joey Akeo Miyashiro. Joining them was Shelly Kim, one of four Wahine seniors who will be honored tonight.
"Aven and I have been teammates since we were 6,'' said Kim, who has finally been cleared to play after her knee surgery. "She has been my friend ever since small-kid time. We're C.H.Ts ... Childhood Teammates ... have played club, intermediate and high school together.
"Aven's always been aggressive, has always given 100 percent. She has great reaction time and is so quick. She's ball-smart and anticipates so well.''
Ironically, Lee and Kim - teammates on Kamehameha's state championship volleyball and basketball teams - will not finish their playing careers together. Kim spent her first two years at Tennessee State while Lee was at UH. Last season, Kim played while Lee redshirted; this year, Kim has been sidelined after tearing her ACL in August while Lee has been on the court.
Lee has adjusted to her part-time playing role, usually subbing in the back row for senior Heather Bown. She had a season-high 12 digs in playing a critical role in the Wahine's five set win over Loyola Marymount in September.
"It's hard because you have no time to warm up,'' said Lee. "But it's actually easier than playing all the positions because I can concentrate on my role.
"I take a lot of pride in my defense. It's a great feeling when someone puts all of their strength and energy into getting a kill and you don't let it happen by getting the ball up.''
Lee, Ilustre and Roberts are the lone remaining links to Hawaii's last final four team of 1996. Lee hopes that history will repeat itself next month with the Wahine again reaching the national championship match, this time at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"We should be here next month. We've worked hard to be on this court and, if we continue doing what we've been doing, we should be here,'' she said.
That would be heavenly.
WAHINE PLAYBOOK
VS. San Jose Spartans
Tonight: San Jose State (25-5, 11-2 WAC) at No. 3 Hawaii (24-1, 13-0 WAC), 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.
By Cindy Luis, Star-Bulletin
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Ka Leo O Hawaii
