She saddled up to success

It’s all about the core, that center, that balance.

It’s the basis for strength, both mental and physical.

And, when your teammate is a horse, it’s very much about instinct and trust.

It’s what made Sarah Mendoza an accomplished equestrian, competing in shows when growing up in Santa Barbara, Calif. There was a lot of hard work involved, preparing her miniature horses — do not call them ponies — for the ring. All that prep work with up to seven horses on her family’s 21⁄2 -acre property laid the foundation of her athletic career.

Hard work and team work. One and the same.

That latter — team work — is so ingrained that, when the senior libero for Hawaii was replaced in Set 3 at UC Irvine last Friday by freshmen Savanah Kahakai, her disappointment quickly turned to being as supportive as possible from the sidelines. It allowed Mendoza to step back, analyze and be ready to go back in as a defensive specialist as the Rainbow Wahine rallied in five to defeat the Anteaters.

"Obviously when you’re pulled you’re disappointed, but Dave (head coach Shoji) needed to make a change," Mendoza said. "I knew I’d go back in, didn’t know when, but I knew I had to be ready, be focused.

"One of the best things about our team is we don’t crumble. In that third game we were down 21-17 but I always believed we could do it. It was a huge win for us, showed character. I don’t think it changed our mentality but it brought awareness to the team that anything is possible."

It’s very much the story of Mendoza’s journey to Hawaii, where she grew up wanting to be a Rainbow Wahine. Her parents briefly owned radio station KLEI when it was based in Kailua, the family often vacationed in Hawaii, her Santa Barbara High School team competed in preseason tournaments here.

When Hawaii showed little interest, Mendoza committed to UCSB before winding up at Irvine Valley, coached by former UH All-American Tom Pestolesi.

"She was really good for us, part of our great libero pipeline that we’ve established here," said Pestolesi, whose undefeated Lasers feature Wahine commit Annie Mitchem. "We’re excited that she is there. We love having anyone who plays for us become a ‘Bow.

"Of course I’m biased but I told Dave (Shoji) he should take her. She was one of those players who gave it their all, was a really good teammate and was one of those special kids who didn’t sulk when they weren’t playing, that they gave the same effort when they were out."

Pestolesi’s recommendation and that of Shoji’s son Erik, one of the top liberos internationally, sold Shoji. Mendoza redshirted in 2012 and backed up Ali Longo last season, playing in 30 matches, starting five, mostly with a broken bone originally diagnosed as turf toe.

"Sarah is such a hard worker, always does things to help the team," said Longo, a student-assistant for the Wahine this season. "It wasn’t easy for her to go through (last Friday) but she’s handled it the way you expect. She’s still focusing on what is best for the team."

"She’s a complete team player," Shoji said. "She’s a tough kid, been playing great defense and has been a great leader for us."

That is the legacy Mendoza — who is not on scholarship — hopes to leave.

"We’re so lucky here at UH, with all the resources available," said Mendoza, graduating in spring with a degree in family resources. "They’re not just trying to build volleyball players, they’re building you for life. I hope that people, especially those on scholarship, don’t take anything for granted.

"Our fans are the best, here and on the road. I get chills with their ‘Let’s go, ‘Bows.’ They lift our spirits. It’s just radical."

The future? Keep playing as long as possible, including another season with the sand team, then perhaps professionally. She anticipates following the community involvement lead of her mother Adrienne Schuele, a realtor who played for Shoji’s brother Tom at San Marcos (Calif.) High and organizes fundraisers for non-profits.

"I want to give back," Mendoza said.