EVERY college graduate should find a job this quickly. Ljungquist can’t wait
to hit the beachAngelica Ljungquist picked up her diploma yesterday at her home-away-from-home, the Special Events Arena. Wednesday, the 1996 NCAA women's volleyball Player of the Year starts her new career on the professional beach volleyball tour.
"I am so excited about this opportunity," said Ljungquist, enjoying a double celebration last night with family and friends. "It's just awesome to get this chance."
The four-time University of Hawaii All-American is taking her political science degree and her volleyball game to the Bud Light Pro 4s as a rookie for Team Discus Athletic. She is teamed with setter Joy McKienzie (Long Beach State), outside hitter Wendy Stammer (LSU) and blocker Kim Oden (Stanford) on Discus, coached by former Rainbow volleyball player Tom Pestolesi (1982-83).
Pestolesi, married to former Wahine All-American Diane Sebastian (1978-81), had one question of UH coach Dave Shoji regarding Ljungquist: "Can she do it?"
Shoji shot one back: "Are you kidding? She can do it all."
NO one who has seen her play questions Ljungquist's abilities. At 6-foot-3, she dominated the middle like few before her with deceptive quickness and agility.
Her biggest challenge may not be in making the transition from indoor to sand, but that of middle blocker to outside hitter. That's where Pestolesi had envisioned Ljungquist playing when it came down between Discus and Team Norelco obtaining the 22-year-old Swedish national.
"Norelco was looking at her as a middle, but I wanted her all along as a right-side hitter," said Pestolesi. "It was like, 'Norelco, please don't pick her, please don't pick her.' I was so happy when Samantha (Norelco captain Shaver) went with Danielle Scott.
"People were asking how we knew about Ljungquist. How could we not know? She was Player of the Year. We follow UH volleyball. Diane and I both played at Hawaii. Brandi Brooks (former Wahine who played for Pestolesi in high school and then with Ljungquist for two years) is one of our best friends. It was like, 'Duh.' "
Or "Doy," as Tommy Jr. would say. Pestolesi's 9-year-old son is already planning to make Ljungquist his beach doubles partner.
LJUNGQUIST will be living with the family in Huntington Beach, Calif., during the regular season that concludes with the Honolulu tour stop Aug. 23-24. Her debut is in two weeks, at the Manhattan Beach stop, May 31-June 1.
Diane Pestolesi said her children -- Tommy, 9, Kari, 8 and Danny, 4 -- can't wait to have "daddy's volleyball girl" move in.
"The kids love her and she really made an impression on them when she stayed with us for a few days a couple of weeks ago," said Diane Pestolesi, who teaches nursing at nearby Saddleback College. "She's a great person and we're excited to have her. They all think she's very cool."
And she is, according to her new coach. Tom Pestolesi expects Ljungquist to fit right in with Discus, the preseason pick to win the four-team league.
"We have all the pieces to win it, we just haven't had a chance to put it together," said Pestolesi, who helped coach Team Norelco to the title last season. "We have yet to practice with our full team.
"The other players are very excited about having Ang for a number of reasons. We have some of the best volleyball players in the country and they're great people. They don't think they're hot stuff. they're very humble but have a lot of confidence in what they can do. The scary part of it is they have to listen to me and, hopefully, I'll tell them the right thing."
If not, Pestolesi says he can always blame Shoji, his Rainbow coach of two season.
"Dave taught me everything I know about coaching," said Pestolesi. "He taught me how to coach volleyball."
Interesting how the Rainbow Connection has come full circle.
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.