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One scholarship offer. That’s what will make the time and expense worth it for Bob Kawamura, director of next weekend’s second Hawaii Volleyball Combine.
More than a dozen women’s volleyball coaches from Divisions I through III are expected to attend Saturday’s combine and Sunday’s showcase tournament at Manoa District Park gym. The ASICS Rainbows Volleyball Club-sponsored event is open to high school girls, in the 2011 through 2014 graduation classes, for a $175 fee.
Kawamura, the recruiter for ASICS RVC, expects around 75 players to take advantage of the opportunity to be seen and evaluated locally instead of at a mainland tournament.
"We all know how costly going to tournaments can be," Kawamura said. "We travel four times a year for qualifiers and the tournaments.
"So many players out there aren’t on teams that qualify for the mainland tournament or their parents can’t afford for them to travel. This way, we bring the coaches here for the kids to be seen."
Among the coaches committed are Hawaii’s Dave Shoji; Texas A&M’s John Corbelli; Washington State’s Andrew Palileo; and former University of Hawaii setter Daniel Rasay from Menlo. (Complete list available at hawaiivolleyballcombine.com).
Helping run the combine are former All-Americans Pono Ma’a (UH) and Stein Metzger (UCLA), and Wagner Pacheco, the assistant coach for the Dominican Republic women’s national team.
"We’re doing it because of the geographic isolation and financial hardships players in Hawaii face," Kawamura said. "With D-I through D-III (coaches) coming, there’s a fit for everybody. You don’t have to be a Division I player.
"Even if it’s just one scholarship … with more than a dozen coaches … you never know."
Registration runs through Friday.
