A highly regarded high school setter will join the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team next year.
Joe Worsley of Campolindo High in Moraga, Calif., said he will sign next month when national letters of intent may be submitted.
Worsley said he was attracted to the program, the chance to compete at setter, and the opportunity to return to the islands. He lived in Hawaii for two years as a pre-schooler while his father was an assistant with the UH’s men’s and women’s volleyball programs.
Worsley said he has memory bits of watching matches in the Stan Sheriff Center.
"And then the beach a little bit," he said. "Besides that, not much. I was pretty young."
Roger Worsley is administrator and founder of the Pacific Rim Volleyball Club. With Joe Worsley setting, Pacific Rim went 11-0 in the Junior National Tournament in Houston this past summer, claiming the 17-under Open championship. Worsley was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
"It was an awesome experience," Worsley said. "We have been training for four or five years (together). We’ve always been aiming for the national championship. It was an awesome feeling when we were finally able to get it. It was kind of a relief to accomplish what we were training for."
Worsley said he has been training as a setter since he first began playing organized volleyball at age 7.
"My dad has coached me, basically, my entire life," Worsley said. "He started training me as a setter."
At 6 feet, Worsley also is a smart and effective blocker. As for setting, Worsley said, "I kind of like being the guy running the team and getting the guys going and being a leader on the court. That’s my favorite part of setting."
This year, Volleyball Magazine named Worsley as one of 25 underclassmen to watch.
He said he looks forward to the next stage.
"I love the environment of Hawaii, the culture they have there," Worsley said.
