Post by hwnstunner on Oct 15, 2009 1:38:26 GMT -5
www.kaleo.org/hawai-i-opened-a-brandt-new-chapter-1.1996903
Brian Tseng / Ka Leo O Hawaii
HAWAI‘I OPENED A BRANDT NEW CHAPTER
By Russell Tolentino
Associate Sports Editor
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Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The journey of life has many chapters.
For Stephanie Brandt, a senior on the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, her athletic journey brought her from Santa Barbara, Calif., to Honolulu, Hawai‘i, from starting setter to reserve, and from playing in her backyard with her dad to playing in front of thousands at the Stan Sheriff Center.
CHAPTER ONE: THE BEGINNING
Susie Brandt, Stephanie’s mother, said her daughter was “born to be an athlete” and began playing volleyball at the age of five, peppering in their yard in Irvine, Calif. with her dad Steve and older sisters.
“Steve would tell me how great she did, even as he hit harder balls at her,” Susie Brandt said in an e-mail. “While she was young, she always went to every volleyball tournament of her two older sisters, and would spend her time on an open court playing with other siblings of players.”
She said that her daughter began club volleyball at 12 after stints as a softball player and goalie on her soccer team.
“(Stephanie) would upset the other little girls (in softball) because she threw the ball so hard and hit it so far they had to run after it,” Susie Brandt said. “We always expected our girls to set high expectations for themselves, so playing in college was the goal.”
CHAPTER TWO: UCSB
In her senior year at University High, Brandt was named the No. 85 recruit on prepvolleyball.com’s Senior Aces list. She signed with the University of California, Santa Barbara Gauchos in 2006.
As a freshman she earned All-Big West All-Freshman Team honors as the starting setter, leading the conference in assists and aces per set, and she set the Gauchos to the NCAA Tournament.
But even with the success at UCSB, she wanted more.
“I grew a lot there, but I wanted to find a program that fit me and my personality better,” Brandt said.
Brandt spoke to a member of the UCSB men’s volleyball team who knew University of Hawai‘i associate head coach Mike Sealy. The ’Bows were looking for another setter and were interested in Brandt.
CHAPTER THREE: HAWAI‘I
Brandt transferred to UH in 2007 and was drawn to the program’s success and fan base. She started at setter after the first game of the season and earned All-Western Athletic Conference second team honors. She averaged 12.75 assists and 2.27 digs per set while leading the team with 40 service aces. For the second time in two years, Brandt led her team to the NCAAs.
“What is so special about Hawai‘i is the volleyball climate,” her mom said. “Everyone seems to follow volleyball and having those great fans turn out for every home game gives her energy.”
“My first season was very exciting,” Brandt said. “(And) I’ve gotten used to the pidgin, and I love ‘ahi sashimi and poke.”
CHAPTER FOUR: KEEP PUSHING
But after two seasons as a starter, Brandt lost her spot in 2008 to sophomore setter Dani Mafua.
For the first time, 5 foot 9 inch Brandt watched from the bench.
“It was hard,” Brandt said. “(But) it made me focus more on making myself a well-rounded player and trying to excel at whatever I could.”
Brandt still played in all 35 matches as a serving and defensive specialist. She also set five games for an injured Mafua – three of which led the team to WAC Tournament Championship and the WAC’s automatic bid to the NCAAs.
Her reserve role has continued this season, but Brandt has embraced her spot. She has 45 digs on the year and is third on the team with 16 aces.
“I love the sport and I love to play, no matter how little time I get,” Brandt said. “I try to take advantage of all the time I (do) get on the court. I am very confident in my serving and defensive skills; I enjoy getting to do both of those things.”
Coach Sealy said Brandt “works very hard every day” and remains positive.
“I have never seen her with a ‘poor me’ or bitter attitude about not being in a starting role,” Sealy said. “She has never been one to create drama and is a great team player – that is going to get her very far in life.”
CHAPTER FIVE: THE FUTURE
Brandt, a sociology major with a minor in Spanish, said she wants to attend grad school and either play beach volleyball or coach after graduation.
But for now, she has one main goal.
“I want to make the Final Four,” Brandt said.
“Things didn’t turn out quite as she expected, but she continues to push herself to be the best at what she does,” her mom said. “But even while being a part of a tremendously demanding program, she has focused on her education and will graduate with honors. We are proud because she demands the best from herself in both academics and athletics.”
Brian Tseng / Ka Leo O Hawaii
HAWAI‘I OPENED A BRANDT NEW CHAPTER
By Russell Tolentino
Associate Sports Editor
Print this article
Share this article
Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The journey of life has many chapters.
For Stephanie Brandt, a senior on the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, her athletic journey brought her from Santa Barbara, Calif., to Honolulu, Hawai‘i, from starting setter to reserve, and from playing in her backyard with her dad to playing in front of thousands at the Stan Sheriff Center.
CHAPTER ONE: THE BEGINNING
Susie Brandt, Stephanie’s mother, said her daughter was “born to be an athlete” and began playing volleyball at the age of five, peppering in their yard in Irvine, Calif. with her dad Steve and older sisters.
“Steve would tell me how great she did, even as he hit harder balls at her,” Susie Brandt said in an e-mail. “While she was young, she always went to every volleyball tournament of her two older sisters, and would spend her time on an open court playing with other siblings of players.”
She said that her daughter began club volleyball at 12 after stints as a softball player and goalie on her soccer team.
“(Stephanie) would upset the other little girls (in softball) because she threw the ball so hard and hit it so far they had to run after it,” Susie Brandt said. “We always expected our girls to set high expectations for themselves, so playing in college was the goal.”
CHAPTER TWO: UCSB
In her senior year at University High, Brandt was named the No. 85 recruit on prepvolleyball.com’s Senior Aces list. She signed with the University of California, Santa Barbara Gauchos in 2006.
As a freshman she earned All-Big West All-Freshman Team honors as the starting setter, leading the conference in assists and aces per set, and she set the Gauchos to the NCAA Tournament.
But even with the success at UCSB, she wanted more.
“I grew a lot there, but I wanted to find a program that fit me and my personality better,” Brandt said.
Brandt spoke to a member of the UCSB men’s volleyball team who knew University of Hawai‘i associate head coach Mike Sealy. The ’Bows were looking for another setter and were interested in Brandt.
CHAPTER THREE: HAWAI‘I
Brandt transferred to UH in 2007 and was drawn to the program’s success and fan base. She started at setter after the first game of the season and earned All-Western Athletic Conference second team honors. She averaged 12.75 assists and 2.27 digs per set while leading the team with 40 service aces. For the second time in two years, Brandt led her team to the NCAAs.
“What is so special about Hawai‘i is the volleyball climate,” her mom said. “Everyone seems to follow volleyball and having those great fans turn out for every home game gives her energy.”
“My first season was very exciting,” Brandt said. “(And) I’ve gotten used to the pidgin, and I love ‘ahi sashimi and poke.”
CHAPTER FOUR: KEEP PUSHING
But after two seasons as a starter, Brandt lost her spot in 2008 to sophomore setter Dani Mafua.
For the first time, 5 foot 9 inch Brandt watched from the bench.
“It was hard,” Brandt said. “(But) it made me focus more on making myself a well-rounded player and trying to excel at whatever I could.”
Brandt still played in all 35 matches as a serving and defensive specialist. She also set five games for an injured Mafua – three of which led the team to WAC Tournament Championship and the WAC’s automatic bid to the NCAAs.
Her reserve role has continued this season, but Brandt has embraced her spot. She has 45 digs on the year and is third on the team with 16 aces.
“I love the sport and I love to play, no matter how little time I get,” Brandt said. “I try to take advantage of all the time I (do) get on the court. I am very confident in my serving and defensive skills; I enjoy getting to do both of those things.”
Coach Sealy said Brandt “works very hard every day” and remains positive.
“I have never seen her with a ‘poor me’ or bitter attitude about not being in a starting role,” Sealy said. “She has never been one to create drama and is a great team player – that is going to get her very far in life.”
CHAPTER FIVE: THE FUTURE
Brandt, a sociology major with a minor in Spanish, said she wants to attend grad school and either play beach volleyball or coach after graduation.
But for now, she has one main goal.
“I want to make the Final Four,” Brandt said.
“Things didn’t turn out quite as she expected, but she continues to push herself to be the best at what she does,” her mom said. “But even while being a part of a tremendously demanding program, she has focused on her education and will graduate with honors. We are proud because she demands the best from herself in both academics and athletics.”
