Stephanie Brandt volleyball save Hawaii Rainbow Wahine

As mentioned: http://starbulletin.com/sports/20091022_Hawaiis_multitasker.html
Also click more info for Advertiser story: Setting aside personal goals - Rainbow Wahine praised for unselfishness, versatility
All you need to know about Stephanie Brandt is that as she nears the end of her University of Hawai'i volleyball career she is playing a position she never gets to practice, and is all but flawless. (click more info)

Brandt's skills are so versatile and refined that no matter where she plays — and she has played everywhere but the middle for the Rainbow Wahine — she makes meaningful contributions.

"She epitomizes a team player," said UH coach Dave Shoji, whose third-ranked team plays BYU-Hawai'i tonight. "She practices one role (setter) and in the game she plays another role (defensive specialist). She knows if there's an injury (at setter) she's in. She embraces that role we've given her. Not all kids can buy into that."

Brandt was the starting setter her first year here after transferring from UC Santa Barbara, where she started as a freshman after turning down New Mexico State. "Steph had a little more game savvy than Dani (Mafua) did at that time (2007)," Shoji said. "She provided us with instant credibility at the position."

But it was Mafua who was most comfortable setting the fast tempo Hawai'i needed to get back into the top five with its small, quick attackers. Mafua blossomed into an honorable mention All-American at setter last year as a sophomore. Brandt has moved to defensive specialist, serving, digging and sacrificing her body in the backrow.

In spring games, she also hit and played libero. Brandt has started and subbed, been a focal point and a role player. Through all of it, she has been so accomplished that nearly everything she touches "betters the ball," which is what the game is all about.

"It doesn't matter to me," Brandt insists. "Wherever you want me, I'll go."

Maybe even more crucial to the fragile existence of a team's chemistry, Brandt has swallowed her pride and provided the kind of positive energy that keeps teams from fracturing. She has embraced a role that grows in importance as the opposition grows in stature.

"I think I'm pretty positive out there," Brandt said. "I just really enjoy playing, especially defense. That's why I don't mind obviously I'd love to play more, but being DS is fun because you get to focus on that one skill and I really enjoy defense. It's a challenge. How hard of a hit can I dig perfectly? Can I read the hitter perfectly? Constantly challenging yourself to get everything up."

In practice, pretty much all Brandt does is set, in scrimmages and drills. If Mafua is out, Brandt will set the next serve. "I definitely don't want to go in and have us play at a lower level," she said.

Mafua did get hurt before last year's WAC Tournament. The 'Bows' backup earned all-tournament honors — for the second straight year. (snip)
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/section/videonetwork&videoid=1300967421...

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[cadag6]

if you could save my ball like that i'll marry you :)

[theremoteman5]

@sourhead person..... if you are so good as you say, why arent you playing volleyball at this level??? and it's hawaii, volleyball is not just a sport, its a performance too, it was a good save, so dont be mad that people cheering for her.

[MANDELAZZA]

"What a save"??? "Sacraficees everything"?? And she gets praised as a hero. What the fuck? I do saves like that every practice, it's not even that big of a deal. Especially not in a high league like that! Jesus!