[ WAHINE VOLLEYBALL ]
Wahine expect
2 signings todayNickie Thomas and Tara Hittle
set to join the UH volleyball team
Dave Shoji enjoyed yesterday's holiday, playing a few holes of golf and celebrating oldest son Kawika's 16th birthday.
Today, he has another one. While some women's volleyball coaches likely won't finish their recruiting until the spring signing period, Shoji is done for the 2004 season.
Actually, the Hawaii coach has been done for a while, getting verbal commitments for his three scholarships months ago. Today, at least two of the three will make it official
Expecting to submit their letters of intent today are: Nickie Thomas, a 6-foot-3 middle from Westwood High in Austin, Texas; and Tara Hittle, a 6-foot hitter from Doherty High in Colorado Springs, Colo.
On Saturday, Hittle had 17 kills and was named the state tournament MVP as her top-seeded Spartans won the Colorado Class 5A championship. Thomas' team went undefeated in district play to advance to this week's Class 5A regional tournament.
The third, Jessica Keefe, a 6-foot-2 hitter from Ames (Iowa) High, is competing in her state tournament in Cedar Rapids and likely will fax her letter tomorrow. The Little Cyclones (36-6) open play in the Class 4A tournament today.
"We're pretty well set for next season," said Shoji. "Players are committing earlier and earlier these days. What that says is you'd better get your recruiting house in order.
"Now coaches have to be organized way earlier than we had to be in the past. We're looking at kids in ninth and 10th grade. Of course, getting the early commits could have some negative ramifications. You're looking at younger players and trying to project what they'll be like when they're ready to enroll in college."
Shoji loses seven seniors off the second-ranked Rainbow Wahine team. He had five scholarships for 2004 and has committed one to redshirt freshman Juliana Sanders, a 6-2 middle from Castle High.
He said he'll keep the fifth scholarship and use it for the 2005 class "unless there is someone available who can come in and help us immediately."
The biggest needs will be on the outside and in the middle. Hawaii has to replace All-Americans Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku, as well as starting right-side hitter Nohea Tano; the middle will have a big void with the departure of third-team All-American Lauren Duggins, and all-conference first-teamer Maja Gustin and second-teamer Karin Lundqvist.
Returning next season will be Susie Boogaard, a 6-2 sophomore hitter, 6-foot freshman hitter Alicia Arnott; and junior middle Melody Eckmier. The Wahine will also have the services of redshirt senior Teisa Fotu, a 6-foot hitter who transferred from Hawaii Pacific, and redshirt freshman Kari Gregory, a 6-3 middle.
The Wahine are secure at setter, with current freshmen Kanoe Kamana'o and Cayley Thurlby. They have a plethora of liberos/defensive specialists either on the roster (sophomore Ashley Watanabe) or redshirting (freshmen Raeceen Woolford and Katie Carlson) to replace senior Melissa Villaroman.
One possible back-row addition is 5-8 Elise Duggins, the younger sister of Lauren, a libero on the USA youth national training team last summer.
Shoji is already thinking ahead to the 2005 class and beyond.
"We won't bring in a setter in '05," he said, "but '06. You try to think ahead, to project what you will have and what you will need.
"I think what we will have for next year is some healthy competition for playing time. What we'll look for is a combination that will work."
