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Rainbow Wahine
add middle blocker

Alabama’s top player picked UH
over UCLA and Long Beach

Jamie Houston has big plans for the first six months after her graduation from Huntsville (Ala.) High:

» Win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics;

» Earn a spot on the USA Junior National Team A2 roster;

» Help the Hawaii women's volleyball team win the NCAA title.

Houston, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, told the Star-Bulletin yesterday that she has committed to play this coming season for the Rainbow Wahine. The spring letter-of-intent signing period begins April 13.

Houston, a Fab 50 pick, said she chose Hawaii over Long Beach State and UCLA because of the atmosphere surrounding the program. She had put off her decision "to take care of some things first," she said, "but this was the way I wanted to do it."

Last fall, Houston led Huntsville High to its third consecutive Class 5A championship. The Lady Panthers went 59-11 in the three years, with Houston finishing with 808 kills, 67 aces, 296 blocks and 403 digs.

Houston was named the Super All-Metro Player of the Year by the Huntsville Times, as well as the Gatorade Player of the Year for Alabama. Last summer, she was a member of the USA junior national team.

"I am very excited to get started," Houston said. "I feel that I can help the team. I want to win a national championship."

Houston will compete for a middle spot with incoming senior Victoria Prince, sophomores Juliana Sanders and Kari Gregory, and redshirt freshman Nickie Thomas. If she was to move to an outside position, the competition includes incoming returnees Susie Boogaard, Alicia Arnott and Tara Hittle, redshirt freshmen Jessica Keefe and Caroline Blood, and junior transfer Sarah Mason.

"Jamie's an outstanding athlete," Huntsville coach Melanie Donahoo told the Huntsville Times. "Her potential is limitless."

The Wahine finished 30-1 last year, losing to Wisconsin in the NCAA regional semifinal. Hawaii opens this season against Nebraska in the AVCA/NACWAA Showcase on Aug. 26-27 at Omaha, Neb.

Hawaii coach Dave Shoji is not allowed to discuss recruiting until letters of intent are official.

Two local players who have verbally committed to UH for the 2006 season are 5-9 setter/hitter Dani Mafua (Mid-Pacific) and 5-11 middle Careena Onosai (Word of Life).

Also, 6-1 middle Amber Kaufman (Branham H.S./San Jose, Calif.), has given her verbal commitment for 2006, according to her high school coach Dave Faz.

"Amber can jump out of the gym," he said yesterday. "You're going to enjoy watching her."