AYUMI NAKANISHI / ANAKANISHI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Cayley Thurlby, Susie Boogaard and Karin Lundqvist are new to the Rainbow Wahine this year and look to contribute however they can.
Blond and ambitious It's a blond new world.
Thurlby, Boogaard and Lundqvist
primed to deliver more color to
the Rainbow Wahine this seasonBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comBesides giving the Hawaii volleyball team a more fair-haired look, Karin Lundqvist, Cayley Thurlby and Susie Boogaard bring versatility, athleticism and a desire to contribute.
Where they fit on a team chock-full of experience and talent is a little muddy. The only thing that is clear as the Rainbow Wahine finish the first week of two-a-day practices is that all three are giving Hawaii coaches something to talk about. And giving the returnees something to think about.
Lundqvist is a 6-foot-3 long-legged specimen with impressive credentials, all-around skills and the capacity to pummel the ball. The transfer from Montana State ranked 16th nationally in blocking last year and posted a triple-double (19 kills, 14 digs, 12 blocks against Weber State) for the second time in her career last season.
Lundqvist logged some time with the Swedish national team over the summer and even played against former UH standout Maja Gustin, who was competing for the Slovenian team.
"Karin just has a lot of experience," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "That's the best thing about her. She's not going to get flustered out there. She's played international volleyball. We're not going to get hurt by putting her in the lineup, that's for sure. She's a solid player, but we have other solid players competing for that spot."
Lundqvist took a semi-scenic route to Manoa. She knew former Wahine superstar Angelica Ljungquist and initially wanted to come to Hawaii. But a torn anterior cruciate ligament rerouted her plans for two years.
"When I came over, I hadn't played volleyball in one and a half years," Lundqvist said. "Everything was kind of unstable."
She eventually found stability and flourished for the Bobcats, earning all-conference recognition both years.
Lundqvist doesn't expect to be rattled by the expectations or attention surrounding a team in the limelight. The 21-year-old believes it won't be much different from MSU because of the basic principle that "everybody wants to win."
Lundqvist isn't alone in those thoughts. Boogaard shares the same mindset. The freshman has already picked up the refrain of the upperclassmen.
"I'm just excited to get started," Boogaard said. "It's going to be a great year. We're all going to work really hard. Hopefully, we'll bring home something at the end of the year."
It would be a nice addition to the various medals and championships the 18-year-old has already collected.
The 6-2 attacker's physical presence can't be denied. Boogaard has a reputation of hitting a hard, heavy ball. She won't take many swings her freshman year, but Shoji envisions the Southern California native making a transition similar to Kim Willoughby's move from right to left last season.
"We need to get her ready to play on the left," the Wahine coach said. "She can certainly contribute as a right side. That's what we're looking for right now. We know Susie can play on the left, but our left side is pretty solid right now.
"She'll get some swings out there in practice. We'll use her on the left but she'll contribute to this year's team on the right."
Thurlby will back up seniors Margaret Vakasausau and Jennifer Carey. Though she too has played right side and can bang a ball, her focus at UH will be setting. The 5-10 Midwesterner will probably compete for the starting role in 2003 along with incoming freshman Kanoe Kamana'o.
"Cayley has a nice foundation of setting," setters coach Kari Anderson said. "She's gotten a lot of training. And she works really hard.
"She's been great so far. We have to get her some experience in running the offense at the collegiate level. She's going to get some great experience playing behind Jen and Margaret. I think Margaret is feeling Cayley's pushing her a little bit. It's a healthy camaraderie among the players."
Thurlby knows her role will be limited, but she still wants to make the most of it.
"As a high school player, you dream of being able to train at this kind of level and play with girls this dedicated to the game," Thurlby said. "And to be able to have hitters like Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku is huge. It's awesome. I feel so fortunate to be here.
"I'm going to give everything I can to make a contribution to this team. A lot of me just wants to make this the best season for the seniors. There is a lot of expectation and every day all I can do is work my hardest."
UH Athletics
