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Thursday, October 5, 2000
Willoughby soars Steel is forged in a very hot furnace. And if you take a close look at Kim Willoughby, you'll see that's how she was made.
over sorrows
The UH freshman, still
mourning two deaths, finds
happiness in pleasing others
-- especially fans of
Na WahineBy Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin"Since eighth grade, just about every year I've lost someone close to me," said the University of Hawaii's explosive 19-year-old freshman outside hitter.
"But my mother says God only gives you as much as you can handle."
Two days into her second mourning period of 2000, she'll take her starting right side spot tonight against Southern Methodist.
"Sports has been her own zone where she can erase everything else that's going on," said Sandy Fussell, her volleyball coach at Assumption High School in Napoleonville, La.
In her volleyball zone, Fussell said Willoughby was "in a class by herself " in her home state.
The most recruited player in Louisiana and one of the nation's most coveted prospects, she was also a highly recruited two-time all-state basketball player. She scored 2,122 points in her varsity career, according to Assumption head coach Sydney Acosta.
"I take out all my feelings, my anger (on the court)," said Willoughby. "I can't take it out on anyone else because it's not their fault. My volleyball will be on a different level Thursday night."
The vertically gifted Willoughby has inspired the nickname, "Kill-O-Bee," with her soaring kills that sting opponents' hands and ignite the Stan Sheriff Center crowd.
"The height she jumps is pretty awesome," said former high school teammate Kathi Bergeron. "Girls around here were ducking when she played."
With two double-doubles this season, she is averaging 2.71 kills and 2.32 digs per game while hitting. 280.
Even with stats that pale in comparison to more experienced teammates Lily Kahumoku and Jessica Sudduth, Willoughby brings an unmistakable electricity to the floor.
"They (fans) can see there's a potential kill every time she swings," said Wahine head coach Dave Shoji. "She reminds me of Teee Williams because she has the same kind of jumping ability and athleticism. But Kim's better in some areas."
Two days ago, just before practice, Willoughby received her latest heartache.
"My only uncle died, and he was probably the best person in my life next to my mom," said Willoughby, who shed tears just before taking laps around the gym.
It made her mountain of hurt a little higher.
Willoughby, whose mother and father are divorced, came from humble economic circumstances. She grew up in a household with five brothers and one sister.
"My young cousin was burned to death in a house fire when I was in eighth grade," she said. "It seemed like the worst thing that could happen to me because we were close. Then my mother's twin sister died the next year."
Her mother Lula Mae, who often held down two jobs to support the family, was paralyzed in a serious car accident when Willoughby was a junior."They didn't think she was going to live," she said. "At that point I wanted to give up. But my boyfriend really helped me. He convinced me my mom would want me to keep going. I did and she got better and started to actually care about things again."
Willoughby's boyfriend also convinced her to pursue her volleyball scholarship in Hawaii while he attended UNLV, and they agreed that nothing would come between them if they were really meant for each other.
"He wanted me to succeed and and he wasn't going to see anything less," said Willoughby.
"Then on Jan. 27, 2000, he died," she said, choking up briefly.
He was shot to death in a fight.
"It made my life horrible," said Willoughby, who lost 30 pounds in two months of grieving.
"But I think because of all these things that have happened to me, I'm better as a person as well as an athlete," she said.
She said her Wahine teammates immediately embraced her in her sadness, and that helped her to rebound.
But Willoughby said she enjoys giving love as much as she enjoys getting it.
That was especially evident after one of two U.S. men's basketball exhibitions played at the Sheriff Center last month.
Willoughby spotted a 10-year-old girl named Leilani looking forlorn and near tears at the edge of a crowd of autograph-seekers. She'd given up on getting Vince Carter's autograph.
"She was standing there like nobody wanted to talk to her," said Willoughby.
"I just felt like going over to her and said, 'What's the matter, honey?' Her dad said she'd like having my autograph so I gave it to her and signed her shirt. She started smiling and I said, 'Can you give me a hug cuz you're so cute.' I hugged her for like five minutes. I didn't want to let go. It was like the best thing in the world to me."
Willoughby asked for their names and promised to make sure they had tickets for remaining Wahine home matches.
"I just like making people happy," said Willoughby. "I think that's what I was put here to do."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii