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Saturday, December 16, 2000
Wahine RICHMOND, Va. -- Finding a better way to prepare for the postseason will be a high priority for the 2001 University of Hawaii women's volleyball team.
look ahead to
next season
Postseason preparation and
shifting roles are the top
concerns for the UH
women's volleyball teamBy Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinStaying tough during a soft Western Athletic Conference schedule will be critical to returning to the NCAA final four, according to Wahine head coach Dave Shoji and his players.
"I'm not sure exactly how to do that," said Shoji, who led his team to a 31-2 record this year, losing only one of 48 games in the WAC.
Hawaii, ranked No. 3, lost a four-game match to No. 1 Nebraska in Thursday's NCAA Championships semifinal here.
The Cornhuskers (33-0) and No. 4 Wisconsin (33-3) met today (10:30 a.m. HST) for the NCAA title.
"We'll bring in guys more often probably," said Shoji, suggesting a way to make his practices more physical.
Before the rematch with Long Beach State (won by Hawaii in five games) in the West Regional, Shoji asked former Hawaii men's team players Imai Karratti and Trapper Perkins to hit at his blockers.
It apparently helped as the Wahine won in five games and outblocked the 49ers to end a five-match losing streak against them in postseason play.
Another major problem for Shoji is to find someone to fill the important role of Jessica Sudduth, a three-time All-WAC first team member .
"We need someone who can do what Jessica did in our passing game," said Shoji.
He said 6-2 sophomore All-American left side hitter Lily Kahumoku or 5-10 freshman Kim Willoughby might be able to do the job.
But the chance that 6-2 junior starting middle blocker Veronica Lima also might not return limits Shoji's options right now.
Lima was also an All-WAC first team pick this year. She was voted the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA West Regional for averaging 3.00 kills, 2.33 digs and 1.67 blocks.
She hit .447 in wins over Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara.
Shoji said Lima has been homesick for her family members in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and will skip next semester to be with them.
She will leave from here today for South America.
Lima yesterday said she wasn't sure when she would be back.
Shoji said Lima has the option of turning pro in Brazil and he said he's prepared to face the possibility that he will lose her.
The questions don't end there.
Melody Eckmier, a 6-3 redshirt freshman middle blocker, may have torn her ACL in practice. Shoji said that if she did suffer the tear, there's no guarantee she'll be able to play next season. Eckmier missed her senior year at Simi Valley High School in California due to an ACL injury.
Lima, speaking of her team as "they" instead of "us," said the Wahine must "learn how to play under pressure."
"We have to know that when it comes to the final four, if we don't know how to handle those situations, we're not going to get too far," she said. "The players have to ask more from themselves. And the coaches should expect more from us. Even though the WAC is easy to win, the players have to practice harder than they play the games."
Kahumoku said practice should be used to create more game-like situations.
"The WAC teams are not as competitive as those we'll play in postseason, so what we need is better preparation to play more physically challenging teams," she said.
Kahumoku said a more disciplined offense would also help.
"We've gotten away all season with just hitting freely whenever we want, wherever we want because we were going to get kills."
NOTES: The Wahine have tentatively planned a trip to Japan for spring break, something Shoji tries to do once every four years. Nebraska found its trip to China this past summer helped bond the team. If the Wahine don't go to Japan, Shoji said he will take the team to a strong spring tournament on the mainland ... Kahumoku received her All-American award yesterday in downtown Richmond at the AVCA banquet. She sat next to Nebraska setter Greichaly Cepero, who was named AVCA player of the year. ... "I shook her hand like I shake everyone else's. It makes me mad. I don't even want to talk about it." That's how Long Beach State All-American Cheryl Weaver reacted to published and broadcast reports in Hawaii that she twisted Sudduth's bad thumb during pre-match handshakes Dec. 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Weaver's coach, Brian Gimmillaro, said he noticed Sudduth "wince" when Weaver took her hand, but he doesn't believe Weaver did anything malicious. Shoji said there's no doubt Sudduth was in pain but he now thinks that Weaver might not have caused it intentionally.
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