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Ice-water veins that match her preferred gum flavor.
“Polar Ice” is an apt choice for McKenna Granato, who plays volleyball with the same no-fear attitude of the Rainbow Wahine she admired while growing up.
BIG WEST VOLLEYBALL
At the Stan Sheriff Center
>> When: Today, 7 p.m.
>> Who: Cal State Fullerton (6-10, 1-1) at No. 13 Hawaii (9-4, 2-0)
>> When: Sunday, 5 p.m.
>> Who: UC Riverside (5-8, 0-1) at No. 13 Hawaii (9-4, 2-0)
>> TV: OC Sports (TWC 16/1016, HTC 89/1089)
>> Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
>> Live stream: BigWest.TV
That the Hawaii sophomore reminds many of Aneli Cubi-Otineru (2007-09) should be no surprise. Both outside hitters have been considered somewhat undersized for their position — Cubi-Otineru listed at 5-foot 11, Granato at 6 feet — and both state players of the year out of Punahou compensated for it with a hammer of a swing.
“You looked at her and she wasn’t a typical outside hitter,” Granato said of her former club coach, who helped the Wahine to their last final four appearance in 2009. “She was so amazing the way she hit the ball.”
Granato has continued the tradition with bullet line shots and developing cut shots. When injuries limited Hawaii’s outside hitting options, Granato carried the team early, including a career-high 33 in the five-set win over Arizona on Aug. 28.
She hit a then career high of .459 against the Wildcats but struggled with consistency for most of the next seven matches. Something clicked in the second match against Pepperdine, that being the connection with freshman setter Norene Iosia, and Granato has had double-digit kill performances in the last three matches while never hitting below .344.
Granato is second on the team behind senior Nikki Taylor in kills (160), playing in all 13 matches with 12 starts. She is third in digs (83) and aces (10).
“She’s steadily been improving,” Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. “She’s steadied out her passing, which is really helping the team. If she can stay in and hit from the back row, that’s a plus for us and for her. She’s got a lot of shots, has got a big arm. If she were 6-2, she’d be (U.S.) national team caliber.
“She has struggled with the big block, but we knew that was going to happen. We felt she could overcome her lack of size. She has more range now and she’s only going to continue to get better.”
Her former Punahou teammates have seen the growth.
“She’s an awesome player,” Wahine junior defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson said. “We were on JV Blue together, played at ‘Imi ‘Ike (Volleyball Club), and it’s been fun to see her grow into the player she is now.
“She’s had that heavy arm ever since I’ve known her. She’s such a strong player now, both physically and mentally.”
Added senior setter Tayler Higgins: “It’s been cool to see her grow as a player and a person, always contributing. She brings really good energy in practice and in games.”
Granato wasn’t sure she wanted to pursue the sport in college and didn’t know if she wanted to stay home if she did.
“Maybe around sophomore year in high school I thought I might be able to play in college,” she said. “I kind of wanted to go away for school and get a different experience.
“It’s cool being home with all our fans. I guess there is pressure being from here, but it’s nice showing kids that a local girl can be out there.”
Granato got bit by the volleyball bug early, starting club ball in fifth grade.
“I played other sports for fun — soccer and basketball,” she said. “I liked the competitiveness of volleyball and how exciting it is to play.
“I know I need to work on lessening my errors, hitting around the block. We’ve all been working on the things we need to do better. I think it’s more about our game than the other team.”
One thing she is working on is her serve-receive. Of the opponents’ 54 aces, Granato has given up 12.
No. 13 Hawaii comes into today’s match following a successful first road trip. There were bigger crowds at both UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly than last season, she said.
“It was fun,” said Granato, who had 13 kills in the sweep of the Gauchos and 15 kills and a career-high-tying three aces in the 3-1 win over the Mustangs.
As for the sometimes noticeable gum chewing, she says it’s more habit than anything else.
“I just like gum,” Granato said. “‘Polar Ice’ is what my mom always bought.”
Her family also shares Portuguese traditions, the culture with which Granato most identifies. Her middle name is Rose, which is the first name of her great-grandmothers who immigrated to Hawaii from Portugal.
“We make stuff at home, of course Portuguese bean soup,” she said. “And Portugal is our soccer favorite team. They just won the European Cup.”
Granato is majoring in family resources. She hopes to follow the career path of another former Wahine: Elizabeth Ka’aihue went into pediatric nursing.
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