UH senior Teisa Fotu, a Kahuku graduate, worked her way up from junior college (Eastern Arizona) to Division II (Hawaii Pacific) to Division I (Hawaii).
Fotu finds happiness
as a Rainbow Wahine
The UH senior took a circuitous
route to Division I volleyball
The Hawaiian dictionary has a term for it.
Puni hele. Fond of travel.
In the Hawaii volleyball dictionary, it has a name.
Teisa Fotu.
The senior has been used at five different positions this season: outside hitter, right-side hitter, middle blocker, libero, and serving specialist. She will never be accused of not making the most of her one year in a Rainbow Wahine uniform.
"I don't care where I play," Fotu said. "I love volleyball. I love all the aspects. Just as long as I get to get in there, that's all that matters."
And Fotu took the most circuitous route to get there.
Puni hele.
This is the third team in five years for the Kahuku High product. Fotu began her career at a junior college (Eastern Arizona) then transferred home to a Division II school (Hawaii Pacific).
After two seasons with the Sea Warriors, Fotu wanted one last trip. Go to a Division I program.
"I don't know why, but I always wanted to play Division I volleyball," she said. "I don't know what actually finally made me follow through on it, what pushed me into making the decision.
"Maybe it was fate or something else really random. What are the chances of all us individually choosing to come here and having everyone contribute? I would have to say it's very serendipitous."
Most would call it rare. Hawaii, one of the traditional powers in women's volleyball, seldom takes a player for just one season.
And not one who was undersized (5-foot-11), didn't have a great vertical and "wasn't particularly dynamic coming out of high school," according Wahine coach Dave Shoji.
"Teisa's situation was pretty unique," admits Shoji. "We didn't really need her, especially last year. It was pretty much her decision if she wanted to try.
"We gave her the choice to redshirt and maybe help the team this year. She accepted that role and worked very hard to be able to make a contribution."
Fotu's dream came with a rude wake-up call. Literally.
To get to fall camp workouts, she had to get up at 4 a.m, leave her Laie home before 5 a.m. and hope traffic would allow her to make it to Manoa by 6:30 a.m.
"They start right at 7 and it's not good if you're late," Fotu said. "The first day was pretty scary. I didn't know what to expect. I knew it would be hard, but, oh my gosh, it was really hard.
"But I had this fire in me. I knew it would be difficult but that it would make me a better person. I made up my mind that I wasn't going to quit."
Fotu used her "awesome" redshirt year to adjust to the rigors of Division I, becoming physically strong and learning from a team that went 36-2 and lost in the NCAA Tournament semifinals to Florida.
"I saw what they did to be successful," Fotu said. "From Lily (Kahumoku), I learned how to be aggressive, how to play with no fear.
"You have to be that way. Everyone on this team is so competitive. If you seem timid ... you just have to play like there is no tomorrow."
The soft-spoken Fotu found success wherever she played, earning all-league honors at Kahuku, Eastern Arizona and Hawaii Pacific. As a junior middle for the Sea Warriors, she was second on the team in kills (218), blocks (45) and hitting average (2.60 kpg).
"Teisa did a lot for our program," said HPU coach Tita Ahuna, a member of the Wahine's last national champion team in 1987. "She was a middle, undersized, but accepted it like a trooper. We had offered a scholarship out of high school, but she decided to go away for a year.
"She's the type of player who will give 110 percent. We had long talks when she decided she was going to leave. But you gotta do what your heart tells you."
Fotu gave up a scholarship at HPU for a walk-on chance at UH. It came with the blessing of her large family.
Fotu is one of seven children and the youngest of three daughters. At 22, she is the second oldest of the Wahine -- fellow senior Melody Eckmier is 15 days older -- and Fotu is enjoying having "little sisters."
"We're a family and very comfortable with each other," Fotu said. "It's great to feel I'm playing with sisters.
"I didn't grow up wanting to be a Wahine. I wasn't exposed to it until high school. I realize how special it is.
"Playing volleyball is a great thing. Playing Division II volleyball is great, but it doesn't compare to Division I volleyball. And nothing compares to playing Wahine volleyball. So much of the experience has to do with the fans and the aloha spirit."
Fotu has played in every match for the No. 2 Wahine, who take a 23-0 record into tomorrow's Western Athletic Conference quarterfinal against SMU. She could play in another 11 matches, the maximum number if Hawaii was to get to the NCAA final.
Fotu was instrumental in Saturday's five-game win over Nevada, moving from serving specialist to libero in the final three games.
"Teisa brings stability and experience when she's in there," said associate coach Charlie Wade. "She allows Kanoe (setter Kamana'o) to do what she does best, to be Kanoe. Ashley (libero Watanabe) is a better defender, Teisa is the better passer."
Fotu's days in a Wahine uniform are numbered, but the only number that will ever matter is "one." The one season playing for Hawaii.
"I'm not sad at all about having just one season," Fotu said. "I'm so thankful for the opportunity to play here. My family tells me every chance they get how proud they are of me. And I'd like to thank them, the coaches and my teammates for helping me.
"There are no regrets at all. Actually it's more than I asked for and more than I dreamed. But every night I do dream about getting a ring and a Division I national championship."
And when it's over?
Puni hele.
Fotu has switched her biology focus and her career goal. Instead of nursing she's looking at becoming a biology teacher or pediatrician.
"I'll graduate in two semesters," she said. "Bio is a tough major, but I love it.
"I'm getting more motivated to go to med school. It's going to take some time, but I think it's worth it."
So far, all of her travels have been.
One of state’s top players
Fresh off leading Punahou to its second consecutive state championship in girls volleyball last weekend, senior Aneli Cubi-Otineru, last year's Star Bulletin player of the year, signed a national letter of intent yesterday to play for the Wahine next year, according to Hawaii head coach Dave Shoji.
commits to UH"We're happy to add Aneli Cubi-Otineru to our volleyball family," Shoji said in a release. "She's an outstanding all-around player who will add depth to the outside hitting positions. She has excellent back-row skills as well as being a physically gifted athlete."
Cubi-Otineru, who has been named all-state in each of the past three seasons, verbally committed to the Wahine over a year ago.
