The leader is joining the pack.

Kalaheo High junior Luke Owens said he has made an oral commitment to play for the Hawaii volleyball team beginning with the 2014-15 academic year.

Owens was instrumental in encouraging two soon-to-be 2013 graduates — Punahou School’s Kupono Fey and Kalaheo’s Nainoa Frank — to commit to the Warriors. Fey and Frank will sign letters of intent with UH next month.

"Kupono Fey and Nainoa Frank are pretty good friends of mine," Owens said. "I said, ‘C’mon guys, let’s (commit) with me.’"

Fey is an outside hitter, and Frank can play both outside and middle. Owens, who is 6 feet 7, is projected as a middle.

Owens also competes for Ku‘ikahi Volleyball Club’s 18 Red RoShamBo team.

Owens received direct interest from California Baptist and Lewis. Pepperdine, USC and UCLA contacted Ku‘ikahi coach Teoni Obrey.

"I had different schools I could have chosen from," Owens said, "but I really wanted to go to UH."

UH’s attraction is twofold. Owens said he aspires to a career in marine biology.

"I’ve always been an ocean person," Owens said. "I’ve always been interested in fish and dolphins. My favorite thing to do is go to the beach and dive and explore what’s under the water. I decided, if that’s what I like to do, I might as well try to do it for a living."

Owens is a devoted UH fan. He can be found sitting in the lower corner at every home Warriors match. He said his favorite UH players are middle blocker Nick West and opposite Brook Sedore.

"I lived here my whole life," Owens said. "I always wanted to play for UH volleyball. I’ve been thinking about committing to UH for quite a while. I thought really hard on it. I decided now’s the time."