COURTESY OF THE WATANABE FAMILY Ashley Watanabe, center with Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji, plays in a band with, from left, dad Eric, mom Janice, brother Taylor and sister Dawn.

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Watanabe shining
on a different stage

From music to volleyball,
relentless practice has prepared
Ashley Watanabe to perform

There was never a question about her being able to perform under the bright lights.

She has been on stage for nearly half her life, playing and singing in her family's band "NYK." It stands for "Not Yet Known" at the beginning of a performance and "Now You Know" at the end.

For Ashley Watanabe, "Not Yet Known" was also the name for her volleyball dream when she decided to walk on for Hawaii in 2001. Undersized, unrecruited and not overly blessed with athleticism, Watanabe was undeterred.

"Ashley is not one of those born athletes, but she has worked so hard to make herself into an athlete." Kanoe Kamana'o, UH setter, on Ashley Watanabe

She was convinced she could become a Rainbow Wahine and worked hard to get a chance. Very hard.

With the departure of all-conference libero-defensive specialist Melissa Villaroman last season, Watanabe saw a chance to permanently break into the starting lineup. She didn't need to be asked twice.

Not only has Watanabe been a factor in No. 2 Hawaii's undefeated season, she has played a key role. Heading into tomorrow's NCAA tournament opener at Fort Collins, Colo., the 5-foot-6 libero is on the verge of setting a UH record for single-season digs.

Watanabe's third dig against first-round opponent Colorado will move her past Kim Willoughby and into second on the list with 433. Watanabe's eighth dig will give her the record that Teee Williams -- with 437 -- has held since 1988.

The Aiea High product will have done it through one of the most frequently heard words in her home: "Practice."

"Ashley is not one of those born athletes, but she has worked so hard to make herself into an athlete," UH sophomore setter Kanoe Kamana'o said. "This past spring, this summer, she kept going into the gym, kept getting those extra reps in the weight room. She is tremendous.

"And I love hanging around with her. She sings wherever and whatever. At any moment, she'll start serenading us."

Watanabe's musical talent -- she plays the bass guitar and trombone -- is part gift, part genetic. Her father, Eric, played the lead guitar for the "Laughing Kahunas," a popular nightclub band in Waikiki during the 1970s.

Eric Watanabe started oldest daughter Dawn on piano at age 6. Ashley, three years younger than her sister, started on bass at 12, taking her first lesson from local virtuoso Ted Garneau. Young brother Taylor was soon banging on the drums.

"Ted told me Ashley was a natural," Eric Watanabe said in a 2000 Star-Bulletin interview.

Stage presence was a learning process for Ashley Watanabe.

"You know, you're a teen-ager and you're embarrassed because you might see your peers," she said. "You get shaken up because you're out there and it's an awkward age. But I learned to enjoy it. And I learned to appreciate my family's music."

NYK's gigs are low-key, casual and typically local. Baby luaus, grad parties, da kine.

The gig with the Wahine is a little more stressful for Watanabe, particularly this week when travel plans got in the way of academics.

"I had a group presentation for my marketing class and I couldn't be there," said Watanabe, majoring in business. "I have a couple of papers to knock out and I'll have to do those by e-mails. My professors have been really good about letting me do things from the road."

Watanabe's best career moments have come on the road this season.

Two weeks ago, she set the Western Athletic Conference tournament single-match record for aces with five in the tourney championship victory over Nevada. That and her gutsy performance after rolling her ankle against the Wolf Pack earned her all-tournament honors.

"When I went down, I was mad, probably more mad than hurt," said Watanabe, who limped off during Game 3 against Nevada. "I've rolled my ankles so many times, it's like, 'Enough already, don't be so cruel.'

"It was just a little tweak and I wanted to come back and finish off matters."

Her return minutes later helped stabilize Hawaii's passing, and the Wahine finished off the Wolf Pack in four games.

Watanabe has started all but one of Hawaii's 28 matches this season and has 21 outings with double-digit digs, nine of which she had 20 digs or more. She tied her career-high of 23 in the WAC season-opening win at Fresno State.

She is averaging 4.22 digs per game and should easily finish with the school's single-season dig-average record. Willoughby's 2001 mark is 3.66.

"Ashley has made herself into a quality player," Wahine coach Dave Shoji said. "She's a good example of someone who wants something, has enough perseverance, patience and work ethic to stick it out after not playing much for three years.

"When she first came in, I didn't see anything in her that makes me look good in terms of seeing any kind of potential. We just gave a local kid an opportunity to come in and work. And she's improved a lot. She's not the most gifted of athletes but she's learned how to play volleyball in the 3 1/2 years."

There was plenty of frustrating times, Eric Watanabe said. His daughter would come home after practice in tears.

"She's really hard on herself," he said. "And she works so hard, has put in so much effort and has persevered. Of course, now I'm known as Ashley's dad.

"Mom (Janet) and (I) are proud of her. We're proud of how strong she is in her faith in God and how she has stayed on her path."

Her playing path has led her to become part of a young team that had no expectations but knew what it wanted.

"We never doubted that we could be successful this year," Watanabe said. "We're working hard for a cause. I'd like to think that I've improved in my skills and that I'm playing better. My teammates have pushed me to become better.

"Holy cow, yes, I'm happy. I thank God every day for being part of this team. It's almost so normal that I forget how special this is. But I will never take it for granted."

Just how far will the Wahine go in the NCAA tournament? Watanabe already has the answer: "NYK."