Hawaii legend Allen
returns for youth
clinics

UH’s career digs leader passes on
some of the fundamentals that made
him an All-American

The three steps to being a good passer in volleyball?

1. Set your base.
2. Get your platform out early.
3. Move your feet like a Samoan crab.

Allen Allen Volleyball Camps Ages: 18 and under Cost: $90 Schedule July 25-26 King Intermediate Information: Grant Tolentino, 382-8714, or Melvin Mulligan, 371-9953 July 27-28 Pearl City High (limited openings) Information: Dayne Teves, 375-3705 Register online at www.allenallenvolleyball.com

The Allen Allen way of instructing may be somewhat unorthodox, but young players come away with sound fundamentals and a love of the sport.

"I want to give back, help the kids learn and enjoy volleyball," said Allen, in Hawaii this month for a series of youth camps. "I especially like the 10-and-under group, the really young kids. I even had a 3-year-old who was pretty good.

"I love the young kids. They listen, they come in with no bad habits. If they come back (the next year) with bad habits, it's not because of me."

Allen, a Castle High graduate, didn't have many bad habits when becoming the University of Hawaii's first three-time All-American (1987-89). His all-around play shows up in the career statistics, where he is among UH's all-time leaders.

Voted one of the top 50 indoor volleyball players of all time by Volleyball Magazine, Allen still holds the UH record for most digs (739).

His career kill-attempt record of 3,151 stood for 10 years before it was broken by Costas Theocharidis, a four-time All-American.

And no other Warrior has come close to Allen's solo blocks mark of 112 in 307 games. Jason Olive, in 341 games, is a distant second with 84.

The 38-year-old Allen has stayed involved with the sport the past two decades. He had a stint with the U.S. national team -- he was the last player cut from the 1992 Olympic squad -- and missed out on earning a spot in the 2000 Games, representing American Samoa with his younger brother Masui in beach volleyball.

For the past six seasons, Allen has coached women's volleyball at Alliant International University in San Diego. Last year, school officials informed Allen and the rest of the coaches that all nine sports programs were being dropped after the 2006-07 school year.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do after that," said Allen, a middle and high school reading specialist. "It's pretty hard to recruit when there won't be a team in two years. But I do have my club."

Allen 2 Volleyball Club currently has three junior teams -- 14-under and 16-under girls, and 14-under boys. He hopes to expand that number to eight within three years.

His summer camps have already expanded to Washington and Nevada. This month's Hawaii schedule began with Hana and Hilo and concludes with Kaneohe (King Intermediate) on Monday and Tuesday and Pearl City High on Wednesday and Thursday.

Guest coaches include former Warrior Tony Ching and ex-Rainbow Wahine Heidi Ilustre, the latter who is playing on the pro beach tour.

Sandwiched in between the official camps was a visit to Molokai for the first Kalaupapa Volleyball Tournament. The leprosy patients watched as Allen and his group set up a mock Stan Sheriff Center arena for the outdoor competition.

"I think they really enjoyed it," Allen said. "It was awesome. We'll have to go back again."