Tuesday, October 23, 2001
Willoughby Kim Willoughby was named the AVCA National Player of the Week yesterday. It is the second time this season that the sophomore has been honored nationally.
honored again
She is named AVCA
National Player of the WeekBy Grace Wen and Dave Reardon
Willoughby was also named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the second week in a row and for the third time this season.
"It's a big honor but I don't think of those things to be very exciting because it's a single award," Willoughby said. "It singles you out from the rest of your team. I'm not one of those players that likes those things.
"Volleyball is the only sport that's really a team sport and I think that's why I really love it so much. It's great to have it but it's better when our team receives something like a national championship vs. a national player of the week."
Willoughby has been putting up big numbers for the Wahine all season. She leads the nation in kills at 6.91 and has posted 14 double-doubles. In three matches last week, the six-foot outside hitter averaged 8.55 kills, 4.08 digs while hitting .451.
Hawaii coach Dave Shoji isn't worried about the attention that Willoughby has received and he believes it's merited.
"I think she understands it's a team game and that's why we play," Shoji said. "She's been very good about that. One thing everybody should know ... she works harder than anybody we've ever had. She really deserves this. She's really improved her game and racking up the kills. I'm sure she would just as soon win the matches and have everybody with equal amount of kills but that's not the way it is. She's a great talent."
The Wahine moved up one spot in the coaches' poll. Penn State dropped to No. 13 after losing to Michigan. Hawaii is also ranked 11th in the Volleyball magazine poll.
Devitt joins list of award winners: Sophomore striker Arlene Devitt was named WACsoccer player of the week after a record-setting match against Texas-El Paso.
Devitt, an All-WAC performer from Kapaa, Kauai, scored two goals and set a team record with six total points in the Wahine's 5-1 win over the Miners.
Devitt was also named Player of the Week on Sept. 10.
In just her second season, Devitt is already third all-time at UH in goals and tied for fourth in points.
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