Thursday, December 6, 2001
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Willoughby shining LONG BEACH, Calif. >> Had it not been for a misalignment of the stars, the Hawaii volleyball team might not have discovered its brightest supernova this year.
brightly for Wahine
The Hawaii sophomore is
having a standout season
on the volleyball courtBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comKim Willoughby wasn't supposed to have the starring role for the Wahine. That part was designated for Lily Kahumoku, Hawaii's go-to player last season. But when Kahumoku decided to sit out the season and top recruit Jennifer Saleaumua didn't come to Manoa, UH's volleyball world flipped upside down. Middle blocker Maja Gustin was shifted to the outside and Willoughby moved from right to left on the court.
The 6-foot sophomore has been the heavenly body in the volleyball constellation who transformed what should have been an ordinary season into something that's on the verge of being extraordinary.
Hawaii faces UCLA today at 3 p.m. in the regional semifinal of the NCAA tournament. It is Willoughby and the Wahine's chance to showcase the progress of the last four months.
"We have so many matchups that are working out so much better for us," Willoughby said. "It's so exciting because looking at how we started out, we're here. We weren't even expected to be here."
And that's something that's not lost on Hawaii coach Dave Shoji. It should have been one of his most difficult years coaching with the talent he didn't have and the Wahine struggling to a 3-4 start. But Willoughby has hoisted this team on her back and carried it. Shoji isn't calling her the best player.
"But I don't ever remember a player who's had to carry as much of a load as Kim in terms of number of swings," Shoji said. "I don't think there's any way she would have to take this many swings. Obviously she's been able to handle it. I didn't think we would have to be in a position like this and then when we were I wasn't sure she could handle things the way she's handled it. But she's done everything we've asked and more. She's surpassed all my expectations that I can possibly have for her."
Willoughby knows something about exceeding expectations. In high school, the three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball and track) tried out for the junior national team, but wasn't selected. She had the physical gifts and the athletic ability, but the coaches told Willoughby that she didn't have the court sense.
"After that I was like I'm not going to college for volleyball," Willoughby said. "I don't even like this sport. I just kept playing basketball. I really liked basketball because I knew everything about basketball. I've always been the only girl in the house since I was eight. All my brothers played basketball so of course I was going to play basketball."
None of this, however, stopped associate coach Charlie Wade from contacting her. Wade made the trek to Napoleonville, La., to see her in spring practice.
"She was really an unknown quantity," Wade said. "We had gotten information on her through the junior national team but she wasn't on it. She was an alternate."
His initial impression was that Willoughby possessed incredible athleticism and was part of an elite group of world class athletes that don't come around very often. Her numbers alone prove him right.
The sophomore exploded for 7.15 kills a game and leads the nation in hitting. She's already shattered several school and WAC records and she was inching her way up the NCAA single-season charts last week.
If she continues to average the same numbers, she'll be one of only four players to finish a single season above seven. (Sarah McFarland of Loyola Marymount did it twice, 1999 and 2000, Svetlana Vtyurina of George Washington in 1995, and Catalina Suarez of University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1988.)
The clincher is that Willoughby doesn't even like to attack the ball. She prefers hitting the floor and playing defense since that was the first skill she learned playing with her older sister. She leads the Wahine in digs too with 3.68 a game.
"As many times as you hit, you can bounce a ball... OK big deal," Willoughby said. " Every time they hit the ball and you dig it up it's like playing a mind game with them because they think 'you're not going to dig me all night.' But if you keep doing it, they're going to feel bad and they're going to try to hit the ball harder and wail it out of bounds."
But offense and defense aren't the only areas where she contributes.
Washington State coach Cindy Fredrick noted that Willoughby controlled the team and that Hawaii's survival in the tournament centered on her. And that much was obvious when she left the court for brief stretches to nurse a leg injury as the Cougars almost came back in Game 2 after being down by ten points.
"It really becomes evident when she does go off the floor," Wade said. "When she steps off the court for a little bit even in the back row (it's) just her presence on the court. Aside from her being a really good defender...it's just her energy. You kind of start to take it for granted how strong her leadership skills are, just her overall presence."
Her presence could be something on the basketball court, too. Willoughby has made no secret that her sport of choice is basketball. She was the state player of the year in both sports but she always felt more comfortable with the orange ball. Though she hasn't played competitively in almost two years, she's hoping to make a difference.
"Throughout my life basketball has been part of it because of my brothers," Willoughby said. "With my family, I shared three things. I shared church, volleyball and basketball. Me and my mom shared church. Me and my sister shared volleyball. I left my brothers out last year with me not playing basketball. I think that's even more motivation for me to play basketball. And I'm good at it. That's something that I'm not ashamed to say."
Given her athletic skills, it's quite possible for her to be a shooting star as well.
NCAA round of 16 Hawaii vs. UCLA
Where: Long Beach, Calif.
When: 3 p.m. today Hawaii time
TV: Live, KFVE
Radio:Live, 1420-AM
UH Athletics