W A H I N E _ V O L L E Y B A L L




Wahine future is now

Tehani Miyashiro of Punahou
tops list of players to sign letters of intent
to play volleyball for UH

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

The future began yesterday for the University of Hawaii women's volleyball team. Three high school All-Americans submitted their letters of intent to UH coach Dave Shoji, making his job of filling the void left by the graduation of five senior starters a little easier.

Signing with Hawaii yesterday were outside hitters Tehani Miyashiro of Punahou, Jessica Sudduth from Esperanza High in southern California and Jameka Stevens, out of River Ridge High in Olympia, Wash. The trio, who had verbally committed in November, were all named to Volleyball magazine's Fab 50 recognizing the top recruits in the country.

"With this recruiting class, we'll be solid at the outside hitter position for the next four years," said Shoji, whose 35-3 team finished second at the NCAA tournament last December. "They all attack the ball with authority."

The 5-foot-7 Miyashiro was a two-time all-state selection and four-time All-ILH pick for the Buffanblu. She becomes Shoji's first second-generation Wahine player; Miyashiro's mother, the former Joey Akeo, was an All-American on Hawaii's first varsity program in 1974.

Sudduth, 6-2, competed for Magnum Volleyball Club under current Wahine assistant Charlie Wade and also played with current Wahine player Heidi Ilustre on Ichiban Volleyball Club.

Stevens, 5-10, was the player of the year in the Narrows Prep League. She played on the Ichiban team with Sudduth that finished second at the Junior Olympics last summer.

Hawaii may sign one more recruit, a middle blocker from the Netherlands.

The Wahine lost five seniors from a team that went 66-4 the past two seasons, including NCAA Player of the Year Angelica Ljungquist. Also finishing their eligibility were All-American setter Robyn Ah Mow, hitters Chastity Nobriga and Joselyn Robins and defensive specialist Nalani Yamashita.

Also yesterday, Shoji's daughter, Cobey, said she may walk on at UNLV if she is accepted into the school's honors program. The 5-8 hitter played at Punahou.




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