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Friday, February 4, 2000
Feats of Clay could
By Cindy Luis
take Rainbows far
Star-BulletinIn the music store of men's volleyball, Clay Stanley is an MP3. He's ready to burn his own music tracks, sometimes to the tune of 50 kills a match.
But Stanley's always been a little offbeat. Despite being surrounded by volleyball greatness - father Jon is in the U.S. Hall of Fame, mother Sandra Haine is in Canada's Hall - Clay Stanley sidestepped his destiny until he was 17.
Five years later, he has found focus and desire. Stanley, who turned 22 Jan. 20, has finally realized he can be good.
Very good.
The junior hitter for the seventh-ranked University of Hawaii men's volleyball team matured over the summer when playing for the U.S. in the World University Games. The national team wants him back, with the probability of his being in uniform for the 2004 Olympics.
"Clay is the U.S.'s future for 2004,'' said UCLA setter Brandon Taliaferro, Stanley's WUG teammate. "He's got so much potential and should dominate for years.
"Clay is an emerging project with great potential,'' added UCLA coach Al Scates, the WUG coach. "Last year against us, he was in a zone.''
Stanley already owns the UH mark for kills. Last season, he put down 50 to knock UCLA out of the playoffs during an MPSF Tournament first-round match at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I'm a stronger player mentally,'' Stanley said before tonight's match with UC Irvine. "Playing for the U.S. over the summer was really good. You're with all these All-Americans and you can't help but raise the level of your game.
"It was a great experience to find out where I am and where I should be. I know I've got room for improvement and can see what I need to do.''
The improvement has been obvious, even this early in the season.
When Loyola of Chicago came back to win 15-13 in Game 3 of a match last month, Stanley didn't get mad, he took charge.
"Clay is wearing the mantle of leadership this season, whether he wants it or not,'' said Hawaii coach Mike Wilton. "He said some key phrases to the team and it woke them up.''
Stanley's ensuing actions spoke louder than his words as he reeled off three services during a 15-0 rout. Loyola barely had time to blink as Stanley's bullets froze the Ramblers' serve-receive formation. He finished with six aces on the night, one shy of the school record and has 18 total this year.
Not bad for a skateboard riding kid who didn't play volleyball in high school (Kaiser had no team) and played on the Outrigger Canoe Club's junior teams as a way to hang with his friends.
Wilton made sure he got a commitment from Stanley early. By the time the other schools took notice during the Junior Olympics the summer of 1996, the player known as "Bird'' was already headed to Manoa.
"Clayton got a lot of attention real late,'' said Wilton. "He was still in that puppy stage and was pretty raw when he came to us. But obviously he had the potential. It was just a matter of perseverance and work ethic
"How far has he come since last year? I have three words: A long way. He's made tremendous progress in a number of areas.''
Stanley, averaging 5.67 kills a game, admits that things have begun to click. He's taking practice more seriously while still having fun.
"It used to be that I'd go to practice and it would be whatever,'' he said. "Now when I see people slacking off like I used to, I get frustrated.
"We're out there to have fun and if we lose then the other team is better. Losing is healthy. Look what happened when we got fired up after losing (to Loyola). We came back and beat them 15-0.''
Stanley has expanded his game and is now hitting consistently from all three attack positions. Last season, he was used primarily at opposite.
Stanley said he wasn't sure if he'd return for his final season next year. He's ready to move on to the next level if the invitation is there from the U.S. national team.
"I'd love to go to the Olympics,'' he said. "It would be awesome. I want to go as far in volleyball as I can.''
6-9 junior hitter Clay Stanley
Honolulu (Kaiser)
gp k e ta pct kpg sa dg tb 1997 42 57 23 119 .286 1.36 9 28 36 1998 redshirt 1999 85 421 197 820 .273 4.95 26 129 83 2000 23 130 68 227 .224 5.85 18 52 18 High: 50 kills vs. UCLA (99)
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
