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Tuesday, July 25, 2000
Ah Mow
high on U.S.
volleyball
The former UH Wahine
By Dave Reardon
star is set on helping the
team reach new heights
Star-BulletinRobyn Ah Mow fell to earth from 50-feet above it.
The U.S. national volleyball team was at a retreat last week, taking a little time off from two-a-days. What looked like a potential disaster on the high-ropes course turned into one of those bonding experiences that these camps are supposed to be all about.
"Luckily, I was hooked up to a pulley, and my teammates caught me," Ah Mow said.
Is she scared of heights?
"After this, no."
Is she surprised her teammates caught her?
Of course not. But in the past, they might have barely known her name.
The former University of Hawaii All-American setter said what was once a revolving door of superstars is becoming a true team as the Olympic Games near.
"I think around 25 players have been through here since 1997. I left for two months when I hurt my wrist. When I came back, there were quite a few different people. In '97 the attitudes weren't all that good. Now it's really changed. The players get along more," Ah Mow said.
"It's two reasons -- our personalities are good, and because the Games are getting closer, we know it's important. We still compete, but we help each other out."
Those 77 words in less than one minute seem like more than Ah Mow spoke in her entire four years at Manoa. She admits that, as a soundbyte, she pretty much bit.
"It's just growing up," the McKinley High School graduate said. "I've gotten used to being interviewed. It took me awhile to get used to being on TV. I could talk to a tape recorder, or face-to-face, but not TV.
"I'm still shy, depending on what's going on," she said. "But I don't think I'm quiet anymore. Especially when it comes to volleyball I'm not quiet."
Just ask Heather Bown. Her fellow former UH star and current national team middle says Ah Mow has no problem with vocally firing up a lagging teammate.
"She's gotten on me a couple times," Bown said.
Ah Mow can take it, too.
"People get on me," she said. "And that's fine, because it's all for the better. When I'm on somebody, it's because I'm trying to help her out because I think she can get better."
In college, Ah Mow was often the best all-around athlete on the court as she led the Wahine to a 66-4 overall record her final two seasons and the national championship match in 1995.
Converted from outside hitter, she was often a threat to kill instead of set. But now, surrounded by some of the best hitters in the nation, her role is a bit different.
"The most important thing for me to be is consistent, put the ball where it should be," she said. "Another basic thing for me is to deceive the blockers. In college we didn't have to do that too much, but here it's very important."
After the Olympics, Ah Mow can put her all-around athleticism to use again in beach volleyball. Wherever she ends up, it will be near water.
"I want to play overseas, in between playing on the beach. It's got to be somewhere where I'm comfortable and can adapt. I don't want to go just for the money," she said. "I love Brazil, the people are really nice. But it's got to be near the beach."
Ah Mow and former BYU standout Charlene Tagaloa are the only setters on the national team roster (Kerri Walsh is, however, listed as outside hitter/setter), and it's all but a given both will be named to the Olympic team to be announced Thursday.
It's a pretty good assumption that Ah Mow will make the team. It's also safe to say that the once-quiet girl from McCully won't fear the heights of competition in Sydney.
Olympic Profile
Robyn Ah Mow
Age: 24
Sydney 2000 Olympics
