PHOTOS BY AYUMI NAKANISHI / ANAKANISHI@STARBULLETIN.COM
COMPOSITE BY DAVID SWANN / DSWANN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Wahine junior Nohea Tano is used from every angle in Hawaii's attack. Coach Dave Shoji especially likes her work as a quick hitter.
Hawaii coach Dave Shoji calls her the specialist.
The Kamehameha alumna helps
the undefeated Wahine by filling
several roles on the courtBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comBut "specialist" is a name that doesn't quite fit junior Nohea Tano, a jack-of-all-volleyball-positions and master of none.
The 5-foot-11 Kailua native has played multiple positions for the second-ranked Hawaii volleyball team. A year ago, her home was at the middle blocker position, where she started 25 matches. This year, Tano is charging at Rainbow Wahine opponents from the right side.
Tano has been granted an occasional reprieve and thrust back in the middle a few games when Hawaii's depth dwindled because of injuries. If Tano had a choice, she'd stay in the middle permanently because it feels the most natural to her.
"It can be frustrating because I can't really get great at one position. I get moved around a lot," Tano said. "But it's for the betterment of the team. If someone gets hurt, I fill in wherever. I can play right, middle or left.
"I know my role. I've accepted that. I have to be able to switch in and out, from position to position. I just go with the flow, whatever they give me is what I have to take. I can't be choosy in my position."
Not being picky or exceptional in any spot on the court is what makes the former Kamehameha star unique and valuable to Hawaii.
On a team of All-Americans, the junior has accepted the utility role -- previously held by former Wahine Tanja Nikolic -- and done most things asked of her.
"She never complains," setter Margaret Vakasausau said. "One day she's practicing with the outside hitters, the next day with the middle blockers. She never really misses a beat at all. She gets up and goes to work. She makes it look so easy and so simple.
"Nohea sucks it up and does the dirty work. She gets all the scraps. She's done it all for us. She is one of the players that does not contemplate things. She just goes out and plays and then it's over. It's hard to find players that do that."
Tano's attitude on the court has been influenced by her personal life off the court.
As a single mother of a 1 1/2-year-old, Tano is mother and father to son Koby. Her life can be hectic as a 20-year-old college student who is also a starter on a very visible volleyball team, though she does get a lot of help from home. Between her parents, her five older brothers and one older sister, there is almost always a baby sitter when she needs one.
"My brother Kawika is so helpful," Tano said. "He watches Koby a lot. He takes him to the zoo and reads to him. I still do the things that I want to do because that was the main thing my family wanted for me.
"They still wanted me to have a college life. I can't have it fully. I still have to go home. But my family helps out a lot. It's such a tag team. I come home, they can go to work. It's like one thing after the next. It's kind of crazy, but it's fun."
And in a way, the hectic schedule is not much different from when she was growing up and participating in multiple sports and modeling.
Tano has done a few print and television ads but never considered pursuing modeling seriously.
"I did a couple of things, but I didn't like it at all, not one bit," she said. "It wasn't me. Being in front of the camera is one thing, but the bossy people telling you what to do, they're strict. You have to fit a certain role."
It's one of the few times Tano was inflexible about anything. Most days, her attitude is to appreciate what's been given to her. The psychology major wants to work with troubled kids after she graduates. Tano doesn't see professional volleyball in her future.
"I really take advantage of the time that I have," Tano said. "I'm a junior now and the years are going by so fast. I don't think I'm going to play after this, so I need to appreciate every practice that I get.
"It's my free time away from stress, not to say Koby is stressful. It's hard work, so I look forward to practicing."
Practicing hard is what allowed her to crack the lineup last year and helped her maintain her role despite serious competition from freshman Susie Boogaard, a taller, more physical player.
As a right-side hitter, Tano isn't expected to put up big numbers. But she has made herself a vital part of Hawaii's offense.
Shoji said that opposing teams have to be focused on stopping Tano.
"She's been almost a specialist in that in order to sideout, we need her to hit the quick set," Shoji said. "She's the most effective quick hitter we have. That's one of the reasons she's in the lineup. She's improved as a line blocker, which is something we need out of that position.
"She's got a really good arm swing. She doesn't necessarily hit it hard, but she's up there fast. You really have to commit to her or you can't block her. She's really fast on her feet, so she can accelerate to the ball wherever it's set. (When) her arm is up, she can pull the trigger fast."
Which is what you want out of a specialist.
Who: Louisiana Tech (12-7, 0-1 WAC) vs. Hawaii (11-0, 1-0) Wahine volleyball
When: Tomorrow, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: KFVE, Ch. 5
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
UH Athletics
