Wahine walk-on soars

Freshman Jayme Lee, an HBA alum, has unexpectedly caught on as Hawaii's starting libero

SIMPLY PUT, it's living a dream.

From a walk-on who wasn't recruited to a starter, all in a year. Things -- good things -- have happened quickly for Jayme Lee, a redshirt freshman who suddenly and unexpectedly has found a spot on the court with the No. 9 Hawaii women's volleyball team.

WAIKIKI BEACH MARRIOTT CHALLENGE At the Stan Sheriff Center TV: All matches, KFVE (Ch. 5) Radio: All UH matches, KKEA (1420-AM) Tickets: $3-$16 SCHEDULE Today » No. 8 Stanford (3-1) vs. Northwestern (2-1), 4:30 p.m. » Fairfield (3-3) at No. 9 Hawaii (3-2), 7 p.m. Tomorrow » Stanford vs. Fairfield, 4:30 p.m. » Northwestern at Hawaii, 7 p.m. Saturday » Northwestern vs. Fairfield, 4:30 p.m. » Stanford at Hawaii, 7 p.m.

"Surprised would be the word," said Lee, looking at a fifth start at libero tonight against Fairfield in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Challenge. "I'm really happy and excited, but I also know that every single libero on this team is capable of starting. We push each other day in and day out.

"We're all really good friends, but we know someone has to come out on top and that's the coach's decision. Any one of us could be that 'someone.' "

So far, it's Lee, who came in as the libero for Game 3 on opening night against Pepperdine and stabilized the passing. Of the six liberosdefensive specialists vying for playing time, the Hawaii Baptist Academy graduate has stood out ... despite being the shortest player on the Rainbow Wahine team.

Lee, the Hawaii leader in digs (3.72 dpg) and aces (3), is listed at 5-foot-2. That would be in shoes.

"Actually, I'm 5 feet,78 inches," said Lee, who is bucking the national trend toward taller liberos.

"She has a little range problem," Shoji said, "but she makes up for it in foot quickness. She's always going all out. That's what you want at that position.

"Out of our liberos, she has a little more game and is probably the best pure volleyball player on instinct. She's getting better at the skills, has a knack to get to the ball and the desire to play defense."

Shoji didn't recruit her and Lee didn't apply to UH until the last deadline. She had considered Duke and the Air Force Academy.

"I wasn't planning to stay home," she said. "But I also want to be a doctor, and I felt that I had a good chance at getting into the UH med school if I stayed here.

"It was a big decision, do I go or do I stay, and I prayed constantly about it. I talked to my parents and coaches, and everyone backed me up, whatever my choice. I figured I might as well try to walk on. Nothing hurt by trying."

Lee called associate coach Kari Ambrozich about the protocol and then showed up the first day of workouts last year. Helping calm her nerves was seeing the familiar face of HBA teammate Rayna Kitaguchi, who was also attempting to walk on.

"It made the transition easier," said Kitaguchi, a redshirt freshman who has appeared in one match as a defensive specialist. "It helps to have someone you're already comfortable being around and we've been friends since third grade.

"Jayme has matured both as a person and a volleyball player. She's more vocal, not afraid to step it up. It's so fun to see her play. She has such a spark."

Lee draws her inspiration from her strong Christian faith as well as her 2-year-old nephew Kyler Morakami, who has cerebral palsy, a chronic condition that affects body movement, muscle tone and coordination. Lee took her nephew's diagnosis as a sign to direct her on a career path: a doctor treating special-needs children.

"He is my hero," Lee said. "He'll never know what it's like to hit a volleyball. He can't even walk. He inspires me and keeps me going, keeps me humble.

"Being a Wahine is a humbling experience. I'm happy people are excited about watching our team, but we're just regular people. Everyone is gifted in their own way and we're sharing our athletic talents. I play volleyball because I love it, not because I get to sign autographs or be noticed."

Lee was a soccer standout, playing on select teams, before a friend talked her into trying volleyball. She was forced to choose between her two loves at HBA due to the soccer and volleyball seasons running concurrently at the intermediate level.

"It was a big decision," she said. "I committed myself to volleyball."

Lee credits her club volleyball coach, Ken Mau, as giving her a solid training foundation. It paid off with All-State and All-Interscholastic League of Honolulu honors her junior and senior seasons.

Among the qualities of a good libero are quickness, mental focus and discipline. Lee has found that being on the volleyball team has helped her with time management, particularly with her heavy course load this semester: calculus, physics, physiology and introduction to sports medicine, three of which require additional lab time.

"Yes, I am a little crazy," she said. "But my schedule is working out."

As is her dream.

"When we were in sixth grade, we used to pretend we were Rainbow Wahine," Lee said. "We all had names of the players. I'm pretty sure I was Tehani Miyashiro.

"But to go from that to starting ... When you look at this program over the years, you have to pay your dues. This year, I was expecting to cheer on the team and maybe go in and serve. Being a starter has been exciting, but I have so much to learn. As good as it feels to be out there, I know I need to work harder so I can become better."

Lee takes to heart advice from junior Raeceen Woolford, whom she replaced as the starting libero.

"Raeceen's always saying, 'Seize life,' " Lee said. "I want to grab this opportunity that God has put in front of me, work hard and have fun."

Notes: Lee and Kitaguchi will be reunited with their former Eagles setter tonight. Sophomore Brandi Higa, the HBA captain for two seasons, is a setter/defensive specialist for Fairfield.