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By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Wahine Veronica Lima, right, lets out a yell after
slamming down a point on UC Santa Barbara. Her
teammate, Jessica Sudduth, shows her appreciation.
The Wahine went on to beat the Gauchos 8-15, 15-1,
15-10 15-3 to advance to the NCAA Final Four.

Wahine extended
family, friends join
hopes for win

The team beat UC Santa Barbara
in 4 games and will travel to
Virginia to play in the Final Four

Final Four, here we come!

By Dave Reardon,

Star-Bulletin

Last night, it was a little "block" party with 10,000 of their closest friends and family at the Stan Sheriff Center.

And when the University of Hawaii women's volleyball team is done next week, the Wahine hope to touch off a celebration like the state hasn't seen since 1987 -- the last time UH won the national championship.

Fathers, husbands, wives, uncles and aunties -- part of a full house at the Stan Sheriff Center -- cheered the Wahine on to victory over the University of California Santa Barbara and a Final Four berth in Richmond, Va.

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Rainbow fans Gerald Hieda, left, and his dad,
George Hieda, cheer on the Wahine.

After sleepwalking through the first game, UH won the next three to propel itself into the national semifinals. The Wahine fought off the scrappy Gauchos, 8-15, 15-1, 15-10, 15-3.

It's been 13 years since Hawaii won its last national championship, which is 13 years too many, no matter who you asked last night.

Steve Sudduth of Irvine, Calif., the father of senior Jessica Sudduth, has watched the Wahine season end with a loss every year since 1997.

"This is great to see her finish here with a win," he said. "Hopefully this ends on an even higher note in Virginia."

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Next to the locker room, Jennifer Carey's mom,
Becky Carey, shows some of the UH Wahine a
sign that a fan made.

Torry Tukuafu will be there to cheer on his wife, senior defensive specialist Andrea Gomez Tukuafu.

"This has been a stressful time for both of us, with finals and everything, and Andrea graduates this semester," said Tukuafu, who plays on the men's volleyball team. "But, of course, we wouldn't want it any other way."

Neither does Mary Shoji. The later into the holiday season her husband is working hard, the better the wife of Wahine coach Dave Shoji likes it.

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Aven Lee is all smiles as she leaves the Stan Sheriff
Center decked out in leis family and fans gave her.

"Dave's been very intense, very business-like," Mary Shoji said. "I won't mind the cold weather in Virginia at all, since I was raised in North Dakota."

Wahine defensive specialist Melissa Villaroman is from Carson, Calif.

But her auntie and uncle from Wahiawa, Berith and Wayne Clark, were part of the crowd last night.

And her mom, Elizabeth Villaroman, came in from California.

"All the family support is great," the freshman said. "It's really something to be able to look in the stands and see them."

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Wahine Jennifer Carey hugs Beth McLachlin.
Jennifer's mom, Becky Carey, stands behind
Jennifer and looks happily on.

Of course, their family extends way beyond the nuclear version.

As usual, nearly all of Hawaii will be behind its symbolic sisters, sweethearts and daughters as the Wahine go to battle for state pride.

"We've followed them since the early 1980s and been season ticket holders for years," said Curtis Nishiyama of Kapahulu. "We watch the TV replay after going to the match. Who doesn't watch them, at least on TV?

"I call our kids 'The Stalkers,' " Nishiyama said. "All our daughter (Sammy, 4) can talk about is (backup setter) Margaret Vakasausau."

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Wahine fan Alan Hackbarth entertains the fans
during a timeout with his weird dancing.