The average height of the Syracuse University volleyball team is 5-feet-10 inches. Eleven of its 14 players are 5-feet-9 inches or taller. Kayla-Al Kaluau isn’t one of them.

In fact, she’s not even close.

‘A lot of people don’t believe (I play volleyball) just because of my height,’ Kaluau said. ‘People are a little shocked by that.’

The freshman defensive specialist from Haiku, Hawaii stands at only 5-feet-3 inches. This has not prevented her from seeing significant playing time this season. After not playing in Syracuse’s opening game against New Hampshire, Kaluau worked her way into the rotation. She even started for the Orange at Niagara on Sept. 1, contributing 12 digs in a 3-2 victory.

The SU coaching staff gave Kaluau her first collegiate action in the second match of the season, against Siena. Even though she only played the last three points, Kaluau impressed with her performance. Assistant coach Carol LaMarche said she did exactly what she was supposed to do: hitting a good serve, making a good pass to the setter, and executing a perfect set to help close out the match.

‘When I had the opportunity to get in, what was going through my mind was just try and get the job done and do what I need to do,’ Kaluau said

The coaches’ newfound confidence in their tiny freshman led to her playing in every set against Sacramento State; the match LaMarche called the more important of the first weekend. Her eight digs in the match helped earn her a start at Niagara.

Kaluau has been overcoming her size on the court since eighth grade, when she first started playing competitive volleyball. She says she always knew she was never going to be a middle blocker or a high-flying outside hitter, so she settled into the back row.

She doesn’t think her size, however, hindered her performance.

LaMarche actually believes it might help the defensive specialist make plays. ‘Generally, you’re quicker when you’re a little smaller; it’s easier to stay low and dive on the floor,’ she said.

Senior defensive specialist Shanetha McLaurin agrees with her coach. At 5-feet-4 inches, McLaurin and Kaluau have to play very similar games.

‘It’s kind of an advantage,’ McLaurin said. ‘We’re lower to the ground so we can dig balls easier.’

Kaluau’s height did not help her garner attention from Division-I schools. She earned the Player of the Year award in her district, but still struggled to gain recognition due to the size of her competition.

Kaluau knew she wanted to come to the East Coast, but wasn’t getting many looks until she finally got an offer from Syracuse and decided the school was a good fit.

As far as the transition from Hawaii to Syracuse goes: Kaluau says volleyball helps keep her mind away from her hometown of Haiku. Her dad and grandparents traveled to the mainland to see her play in the Big Orange Tournament, but she doesn’t plan on seeing any of them for a long time.

‘I have been a little homesick, and I miss my family a lot. They were such a big part of my life,’ Kaluau said. ‘The busy schedule helps keep my mind off of home. The atmosphere and the area kind of changed, but everything else I’m used to.’

Both the transition from high school to Division-I volleyball, and the transition from Hawaii to Syracuse, could be very difficult. But Kaluau has dealt with adversity for quite some time. She overcame her size and earned a place on a Division-I team. Only a freshman, her new coaches already can’t keep her off the court.

‘She’s really got the right mindset…she’s a go-getter,’ LaMarche said. ‘She goes for every ball even if she thinks she can’t get to it. Her mentality is just what you want for a defensive specialist.’

zjbrown@syr.edu

Published on September 8, 2009 at 12:00 pm