Wahine's 100% All-America Special K

Some of Kanoe Kamana'o's ability on the court can't be explained

Technique can be taught.

Skill can be learned.

NCAA SUBREGIONAL At Long Beach, Calif. All times Hawaii time Friday: No. 12 Hawaii (26-5) vs. Oregon (17-11), 3 p.m.; No. 24 Pepperdine (16-11) at Long Beach State (25-5), 5:30 p.m. Saturday: Friday's winners, 5 p.m. Radio: Friday, 1420-AM; Saturday (if Hawaii advances), 1080-AM TV: All Hawaii matches live, KFVE

But talent? Instinct?

Those are gifts.

Combined with opportunity and passion, it equals greatness.

How else to explain a backset bumped blindly cross-court, a perfect ball stamped with "Hit Me" that Jaime Houston can pound down for a kill?

Or a one-handed solo block of an opponent with her back turned to the net?

How does one explain Jamie Kanoelehua "Kanoe" Kamana'o?

It is best not to try but to watch and appreciate.

Arguably the best all-around setter among the many all-time great Hawaii players at the position, the senior All-Everything leads the 26-5 Rainbow Wahine into the NCAA volleyball tournament this week for her fourth -- and final -- time at Long Beach State.

Except for the national title missing from her résumé, there isn't much left for Kamana'o to accomplish. She already is the school and Western Athletic Conference assist leader; either holds the record or is ranked in the top 10 in six other UH career statistical categories; and is No. 11 on the NCAA career list for assists.

What can't be overlooked is what most often is: her height ... or lack of it. Kamana'o is generously listed at 5-foot-8, yet is No. 8 in UH career blocks despite giving away at least 5 inches to the seven Wahine ahead of her, all but one an All-American.

She plays bigger than her height.

But not her heart. And it's all done with humility, passing the praise as easily as she sets a volleyball.

"Throughout my college career I've had great teammates who have assisted me in getting the honors, the recognition," said Kamana'o, a three-time All-American and three-time WAC player of the year. "I really couldn't have gotten it by myself. It takes a total team effort for it to happen.

"When did I think I could be good at this? I knew it would take a lot of hard work to become a great player, a leader, someone who could lead this team and be successful. But I had no idea it would be like this.

"I have been blessed with the abilities I have. It does take a lot of hard work, commitment and time to become a great player. Along with the coaches assisting me in what I need to do."

Asked if she's ever impressed with herself when watching a replay of a match, Kamana'o replied, "It's satisfying that I got the ball where I wanted it to go. There's also a game I play with myself and the opponents. I like to see if I can get my hitters a one-on-one situation. That's the challenge for me."

She was very successful at last week's WAC tournament where countless times Kamana'o would fool the opponent's block so completely that it was a one-on-none situation.

"She is a fantastic setter who makes her hitters even better," Nevada coach Devin Scruggs, a former player at Pacific, said. "And she is such a great blocker. She might be small, but it doesn't matter, she blocks a ton of balls. She blocks as high as any right side (player) that I know.

"She is absolutely one of the best setters I've seen and I think she actually can be better if she were more offensive. But she is such a giving player. It's good for her hitters that she is that way but I would ask her to dump a little more."

At last week's tournament, Kamana'o had six kills with no errors in 17 attempts. Her aggressiveness peeked through in the title match with New Mexico State, where she put down four kills in eight attempts ... in addition to eight block assists.

"One of the things that makes great volleyball players is the ability to do a lot of different things, and do them well," NMSU coach Mike Jordan said. "You look at her. She jumps well. Obviously the set location is great. She is quick, plays great defense, is effective at the service line.

"She is a five-tool player. I compare her to (Olympian and Long Beach State All-American setter) Misty May. There are so few people who can dominate a match and she is one of them."

But why volleyball? It was in the genes.

Grandpa James -- whom Kamana'o is named for and shares a birthday with -- was a longtime referee and organizer for an LDS church league. Dad Dal, was a setter for Kalani High under Hall of Famer Jon Stanley.

Sister Ku'ulei played at Kamehameha, sister Kapua -- who is headed for St. Mary's next season -- recently finished her high school setting career at Iolani.

"It was the sport we grew up with," said Kanoe, who led Iolani to the 2002 state title under the late Ann Kang. "Dad started me and my sisters in the yard, tossing balls to us, teaching us how to pass and set.

"How I became a setter is a good question. It started in club ball (at age 12). I jumped into the position and settled into it. What I like about setting is the decision-making aspect of it."

That requires a high game IQ. But Kamana'o is known for her intelligence off the court as well.

She carries a 3.5 GPA and will graduate in four years this May after four seasons on the academic All-WAC team. Kamana'o also earned the 2005-06 Joe Kearney Award as the top female scholar-athlete.

"What impresses me is her time management, with family, sports and academics," her mother Marcia said. "It doesn't surprise me that she's done well. She's always been aggressive in academics and sports.

"It feels really good to watch her and we'll miss this part of her life. But hopefully she'll continue to play, play professionally or try out for the Olympic team. We'll support her 100 percent in whatever she chooses."

Kamana'o has many options. She's been in the USA Volleyball pipeline since she was 13, starting with the U.S. Youth National Team, and has been asked to go to the Olympic Training Center in February. There are thoughts of playing pro in Europe, where she enjoyed the cultural experience as a member of the national A2 team during the summer of 2005.

That's down the road, a road AFTER the final four in Omaha, Neb., in two weeks if all goes Hawaii's way. Whenever her UH career ends, Kamana'o hopes she has left more than her name in the record book.

"Hopefully, I leave a good impression for the upcoming setters," said Kamana'o, poised to become just the second four-time All-American in Wahine history. "I hope the community remembers me in a good way, as a hard worker, someone who was able to lead the team in a positive way."

"I don't think we'll understand how much we'll miss her until next year," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "Personally, I wouldn't trade her for anybody.

"We've had such a long history of great setters that I'd hate to name who's No. 1. She's got to be right there with (two-time Olympian Robyn) Ah Mow, and all the good blocking setters we've had: Ah Mow, (Martina) Cincerova, (Cheri) Boyer, (Joyce) Ka'apuni.

"But there's no one better at all-around skills than Kanoe. We knew she'd be a good player for us, but we never expected for her to be this good."

Kamana'o amazes her teammates daily.

"It's been a pleasure but it's been more of an honor to play with her, a three-time All-American and Olympic material," senior hitter Sarah Mason said. "You don't even think about where she'll set you the ball because you expect the sets to be right where you want them all the time. She makes it look so easy, just like Robyn Ah Mow, where it doesn't even look like the ball touches her hands.

"That's not normal. No way a person can be taught that. It's a gift from God ... and Kanoe has it."