Punahou Students National Letter of Intent Article

[Aikea]

starbulletin.com/breaking/breaking.php?id=5097

Punahou volleyball players sign letters of intent
Kaaihue to stay home; Nordyke, McKibbin and McLachlin pick mainland schools
Paul Honda
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In the midst of a busy school week, Punahou's four finest volleyball players arrived on campus at 7 a.m. for a special moment.
Elizabeth Kaaihue and Larissa Nordyke, of the girls squad, and Riley McKibbin and Spencer McLachlin of the boys team, made their college choices official by signing letters of intent this morning at the school's athletic department office.

Kaaihue, who had 21 kills in last night's comeback win over Kamehameha-Hawaii, signed with the University of Hawaii. She committed to coach Dave Shoji and the Rainbow Wahine as a junior, and no other suitors dared to cross the line.

"My family can watch me play," said Kaaihue, who will play libero and setter for UH.

Nordyke will play at UC Irvine after spurning an offer from Santa Clara.

"It's going to be a new experience," she said.

McKibbin considered offers from Penn State and Stanford before settling on USC.

"The athletic situation at USC was more favorable to me," he said, alluding to the scholarship.

Men's volleyball rarely provides a full scholarship for a student-athlete, so McKibbin weighed his choices with an eye on finances.

Two-time Star-Bulletin player of the year McLachlin picked Stanford over UCLA and Pepperdine.

"On the plane ride home, I knew I would go there," he said of a visit to the Palo Alto (Calif.) campus.

[Deleted]

I have a Punahou t-shirt.

Nice gym.

[Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU]

Congradulations !!! all of you...

[Wolfgang]

I have an Iolani t-shirt, shorts, jacket, and book bag.

My twin brother has a Punahou t-shirt, sweatshirt, jacket, and bag.

[Deleted]

I just have the t-shirt. And the little twerp fought like the devil when I took it.

I liked the gym.

[ko'olau]

Really excited to have Liz aboard...she and Aneli will be a good mix for us. Will bring back some great defense and passing for this team.

[pope]

I hope Shoji is also trying to recruit both Yogi of Punahou and Kabalis of Mounalua for Liberos.

[OverAndUnder]

What this team definitely lacked this year were a few more liberos.

[hwnstunner]

overandunder said:

What this team definitely lacked this year were a few more liberos.

Actually, the team has many liberos. what they lack are quality liberos. The only strong Libero/DS the Wahine have is Lee. Duggins is close, but still not on par as to the Wahine DSs of the past.

[hwnstunner]

I wonder if Shoji will actually try a 6-2 offense next year? The Wahine have a load of hitters next year, Ka'aihue and Mafua setting?

BTW ... Is Otineru on for next year or what? If she is, its ANOTHER player added to the mix. she offers defense .... but I'm afraid UH will be stuck again with too many players to evaluate and little time to find connection.

[southfloridafan]

pope said:

I hope Shoji is also trying to recruit both Yogi of Punahou and Kabalis of Mounalua for Liberos.

Sydney Yogi just verbally committed to Texas for 2008.

p094.ezboard.com/fprepvolleyballfrm2.showMessage?topicID=17451.topic

[aaronic]

hwnstunner said:

I wonder if Shoji will actually try a 6-2 offense next year? The Wahine have a load of hitters next year, Ka'aihue and Mafua setting?

BTW ... Is Otineru on for next year or what? If she is, its ANOTHER player added to the mix. she offers defense .... but I'm afraid UH will be stuck again with too many players to evaluate and little time to find connection.

Whoa whoa whoa!!! I think you're beginning to write off Mafua too soon. Do you really feel that insecure about her soley running the offense next year?

I mean sure there is some concern with her being a freshman and all, but i'm going to be optimistic on her abilities, and i'll reserve my criticism until I see her play/run the 5-1 at UH.

Kaaihue should redshirt, but that's only if Lee and Duggins don't improve... which better not not happen.

Lee has got loads of potential... loads. Here's to hoping for a strong-ass improvement in that department next year. I'd bet on their potential to be as good(or maybe better) as the whole complementary defense which benefitted the Wahine in 2002 with the solid Villaroman and Illustre.

With a hopefully healthy Hittle back; and the hopeful addition of Otineru, the BR for Hawaii WILL improve. Moreover, I dare not mention her name right now could completely not only add great strength to the BR, but add Hawaii to list of contenders for the '07 FF.


As far as Sydney Yogi going to Texas.... grrr(she's a good one!). But with Kaaihue, i'm not too worried; plus i'm sure there'll be someone else down the line just as good.

[jr67]

aaronic said:

hwnstunner said:

I wonder if Shoji will actually try a 6-2 offense next year? The Wahine have a load of hitters next year, Ka'aihue and Mafua setting?

BTW ... Is Otineru on for next year or what? If she is, its ANOTHER player added to the mix. she offers defense .... but I'm afraid UH will be stuck again with too many players to evaluate and little time to find connection.

Whoa whoa whoa!!! I think you're beginning to write off Mafua too soon. Do you really feel that insecure about her soley running the offense next year?

I mean sure there is some concern with her being a freshman and all, but i'm going to be optimistic on her abilities, and i'll reserve my criticism until I see her play/run the 5-1 at UH.

Kaaihue should redshirt, but that's only if Lee and Duggins don't improve... which better not not happen.

Lee has got loads of potential... loads. Here's to hoping for a strong-ass improvement in that department next year. I'd bet on their potential to be as good(or maybe better) as the whole complementary defense which benefitted the Wahine in 2002 with the solid Villaroman and Illustre.

With a hopefully healthy Hittle back; and the hopeful addition of Otineru, the BR for Hawaii WILL improve. Moreover, I dare not mention her name right now could completely not only add great strength to the BR, but add Hawaii to list of contenders for the '07 FF.


As far as Sydney Yogi going to Texas.... grrr(she's a good one!). But with Kaaihue, i'm not too worried; plus i'm sure there'll be someone else down the line just as good.

If they run a true 6-2 offense (each setter is replaced by a hitter whenever she rotates into the front row) that would allow them to use an extra OH (2 RS hitters). It would allow 4 OHs a chance to play instead of 3. Of course, this would basically eliminate the DS position.

[BearClause]

jr67 said:

If they run a true 6-2 offense (each setter is replaced by a hitter whenever she rotates into the front row) that would allow them to use an extra OH (2 RS hitters). It would allow 4 OHs a chance to play instead of 3. Of course, this would basically eliminate the DS position.

A true 6-2 would use a combination setter/hitter like Kelly Bowman in '04. Or (so I hear) Sharpley and Wendell. I've seen some unusual 6-2 patterns, like when Santa Clara had the middles sub for the setters and the libero subbed for other positions.

[jr67]

bearclause said:

jr67 said:

If they run a true 6-2 offense (each setter is replaced by a hitter whenever she rotates into the front row) that would allow them to use an extra OH (2 RS hitters). It would allow 4 OHs a chance to play instead of 3. Of course, this would basically eliminate the DS position.

A true 6-2 would use a combination setter/hitter like Kelly Bowman in '04. Or (so I hear) Sharpley and Wendell. I've seen some unusual 6-2 patterns, like when Santa Clara had the middles sub for the setters and the libero subbed for other positions.

Sorry, my mistake. You're right.