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By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comWhen she last appeared under the bright lights two years ago, all seemed in order in the Hawaii volleyball galaxy.
The Rainbow Wahine had finished a remarkable season that included a final four appearance, a 31-2 record and first-team all-American honors for Lily Kahumoku.
But then Kahumoku took a break. She sat out last season and returned to civilian life while her teammates continued their volleyball work.
It was hard at first. They missed Kahumoku's skills when they suffered a shellacking at the NACWAA/State Farm Classic. But then they thrived. They found a new go-to hitter in Kim Willoughby and she powered them to the sweet sixteen of the NCAA tournament.
"We would have loved to have Lily last year, loved to have the other freshman outside hitter (Jennifer Saleaumua), but we didn't have it," setter Margaret Vakasausau said. "Everything happens for a reason. It helped our team develop.
"We had such a good season. We came out winning. We took what we had the farthest we could have taken it."
They know they can take it further with Kahumoku back. Her return last spring was seamless. It seemed almost as simple as shining a red light in her eyes. Her volleyball memory was totally in tact and it seemed like she had never left.
"Coming back was the easiest transition I've ever made in my life because I already knew my schedule, I already knew what I had to do," Kahumoku said. "I knew that I was coming back."
And now her teammates know what they have to do. Final four aspirations? Nah. This team wants to bring home another banner. It has been 15 years since the last one.
"We're trying to win a national championship," Willoughby said. "We're not trying to make friends. We're not trying to be friendly. We're trying to win."
They stand a very good chance of winning. Behind the powerful, potent punches of Kahumoku and Willoughby, there's an experienced and talented supporting cast. Hawaii lost one player from last season (Tanja Nikolic) and has 10 returning letterwinners, including eight players who have started at various times.
Junior Maja Gustin returns to her natural position in the middle. A year of experience did wonders for the confidence of juniors Lauren Duggins and Nohea Tano, a pair of undersized but all-around middles last year.
Vakasausau and senior Jennifer Carey have the setting experience needed to get Hawaii to New Orleans for the NCAA championship. The defense is solid with junior Melissa Villaroman and senior Hedder Ilustre dazzling crowds last year with dynamic defense.
Training has begun for future Wahine in green. Freshman Susie Boogaard could crack the lineup on the right side. Setter Cayley Thurlby could inherit this team next year.
Besides the talent, the Wahine have more players ready to lead them into battle.
"Margaret is our spiritual leader/motivator," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "We'll get other leadership qualities from a lot of different people. Kim and Lily are the obvious ones and they lead mainly by example and their presence on the court."
Opponents beware, you're not going to know what hit you. You may never even see it coming.
THE PLAYERS
No. PLAYER POS. HT. CL. HOMETOWN 1 Margaret Vakasausau S 5-8 Sr. Honolulu 2 Susie Boogaard RS 6-2 Fr. Bellflower, Calif. 3 Kim Willoughby OH 6-0 Jr. Napoleonville, La. 4 Jennifer Carey S 6-1 Sr. Newport Beach, Calif. 5 Nohea Tano RS 5-11 Jr. Kailua 6 Karin Lundqvist MB 6-3 Jr. Stockholm, Sweden 7 Hedder Ilustre L 5-7 Sr. Carson, Calif. 8 Melody Eckmier MB 6-3 So. Simi Valley, Calif. 9 Lily Kahumoku OH 6-2 Jr. Honolulu 10 Megan O'Brian OH 5-11 Fr. San Juan Capistrano, Calif. 11 Ashley Watanabe L 5-6 Fr. Aiea 12 Maja Gustin MB 6-3 Jr. Maribor, Slovenia 13 Cayley Thurlby S 5-10 Fr. Naperville, Ill. 14 Lauren Duggins MB 6-0 Jr. Fullerton, Calif. 15 Melissa Villaroman L 5-6 Jr. Carson, Calif
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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku provide a potent All-American 1-2 punch for the Wahine this season.POSITION-BY-POSITION
LIBERO
Hawaii has a wealth of experience at this position with senior Hedder Ilustre and junior Melissa Villaroman covering the court. Both saw plenty of playing time as defensive specialists last year as Ilustre replaced Gustin in the backrow while Villaroman subbed in for Carey.
Wahine enjoy same old depth at new positionOnly one player will wear the odd-man-out jersey, but that doesn't mean the other won't get on the court. If either Ilustre or Villaroman develops a tough serve, then one could be used as a sub at defensive specialist.
Villaroman is the better passer and has experience as a libero. She played the position with the USA junior national team two years ago.
Ilustre scrounged up 2.06 digs per game and was the only defensive specialist named to the conference's first team.
Freshman Ashley Watanabe is the libero in training behind Ilustre and Villaroman. Redshirt freshman Megan O'Brian could develop in this spot as the season progresses.
SETTER
This was the position that seemed the most steady last year for a squad starting in instability. Three matches into the season, however, Margaret Vakasausau replaced two-year starter Jennifer Carey and gave the Wahine an instant lift with her leadership and her setting.
Vakasausau ready for her first full year at the helmVakasausau is smoother delivering to the outside, where the majority of the Wahine attack is. Her defense is solid, (she was a defensive specialist her first two years on the team) and her block is big enough to slow down the ball. In Vakasausau's first year running the offense, she earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors. Getting the middles the ball might be her only weakness but Vakasausau has taken most of the repetitions in fall camp.
Carey directed the offense her first two years and is battling for court time this season. The 6-foot-1 senior puts up a solid block and saw time as a right-side hitter last year. She'll concentrate on setting this season. Carey sets a better middle attack and can find quick hitters in transition with ease. But she struggles with the location of her outside sets.
Freshman Cayley Thurlby is the future, though at present she's pushing the seniors hard. Thurlby will gain some collegiate experience this season before having a shot at running the show next year.
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
Maja Gustin was the WAC co-Freshman of the Year as a middle blocker. The gentle giant is ecstatic to be returning to the position. At 6-foot-3, Gustin poses an intimidating block and loves to hit any quick attack. As a sophomore, she averaged 3.95 kills per game playing out of position. The junior returned to fall camp leaner and more fit after two months with the Slovenian national team.
Gustin returns to her natural position even strongerThe Wahine are waiting to see who will win the starting job in the other spot. It will likely be junior Lauren Duggins. Shoji said that the 6-0 Duggins has the edge because she's been in Hawaii's system longer. Duggins had respectable numbers last year (1.85 kills, 2.98 digs, 1.12 blocks per game).
But the Wahine coach can't ignore the height (6-3) and all-around game of transfer Karin Lundqvist.
Sophomore Melody Eckmier started briefly last year and has a physical presence at the net. Eckmier had a healthy spring and fall and should be able to contribute more this season.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
The All-American hitting tandem of Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku makes this position the easiest to fill out on the lineup card. The only problem Dave Shoji might have here is how to get everyone enough sets.
With Kahumoku's return, depth becomes Hawaii's strengthKahumoku was at the top of her game in 2000 as the go-to hitter, averaging 4.51 kills per game. A season off has refreshed and renewed her spirit.
Willoughby had an eye-popping sophomore season last year. The Louisiana native led the nation in kills (850) and kills per game (7.21) and broke several school and conference records in Kahumoku's absence.
Unlike last year, when Hawaii had few options if anyone struggled, depth is a luxury this year.
Freshman Susie Boogaard is expected to transition to the left side of the court in 2004, after Willoughby and Kahumoku finish their careers. Boogaard will compete with junior Nohea Tano on the right side this year.
Tano was an under-sized middle last year but used her quickness and agility to compensate. Her versatility is a plus and her experience makes her the front runner for the starting role.
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