OLYMPICS: Hawaiian athletes were destined to excel in volleyball

USAVolleyball

Volleyball Olympian Micah Christenson serves

HAWAII will be paying close attention to the exploits of the Men's Volleyball Team at the Rio Olympics next week. That state placed three of their own on the team. Micah Makanamaikalani Christenson and the brothers Shoji.

What is it about the island state that produces great volleyball players? It must be all that time running and playing at the beach.

Or ... it could just be good genes. As you read about Micah, Kawiki and Erik, you'll learn that their parents had a strong influence on their sons'  choice of sports.

Micah Christenson

Hawaiian/American

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Setter

Height: 6-6 (198cm)

Weight: 190 (86kg)

DOB: 5/8/1993

Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii

Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

High School: Kamehameha High School

College: USC '15, human biology with business minor

Personal: Full name is Micah Makanamaikalani Christenson. Makanamaikjalani means "Gift from Heaven." Micah's parents gave him that name because his mother had to have surgery while pregnant with Micah and it was not known if he would survive... Father Robert played basketball at the University of Hawaii-Hilo... Mother Charlene played volleyball at Hilo, where she won three national championships and was named a two-time All-American

Quote: “I just tried to do my job and work as hard as I could. I don't like just coming in and expecting any type of respect from anybody. I think you have to earn it. I tried to keep my head down and work as hard as I could and do the best that I could to earn my teammates' trust and support.” 

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Kawika Shoji

Hawaiian/Japanese/American

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Setter

Height: 6-3 (198cm)

Weight: 194 (88kg)

DOB: 11/11/1987

Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii

Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

High School: Iolani School (Honolulu, Hawaii)

College: Stanford University ('10, Political Science)

Personal: Parents are Dave and Mary Shoji. Father is University of Hawaii women's volleyball coach and has won four national titles in 34 seasons. He also has the most wins in NCAA DI women’s volleyball history. Mother played basketball at Hawaii... Married wife Megan in 2014... Has a brother, Erik (1989) and a sister Cobey (1979). Erik plays libero for the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team... Also plays golf

Quote: “I think we’ve always had the dream. But I don’t know if I could have told you 10 or 15 years ago that we’d be playing together on the national team.” Kawika Shoji on playing with his brother Erik

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Erik Shoji

Hawaiian/Japanese/American

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Libero

Height: 6-0 (184 cm)

Weight: 160 lbs (75kg)

DOB: 8/4/1989

Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii

Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

High School: Punahou School '08

College: Stanford University '12

Personal: Parents are Dave and Mary Shoji. Dave has been women's volleyball coach at the University of Hawaii for more than 40 years and is the winningest coach in NCAA DI women's volleyball history. Mary played basketball at the University of Hawaii... Older brother Kawika also played volleyball for Stanford and also plays on the U.S. Men's National Team. The brothers also have an older sister named Cobey... Majored in human biology at Stanford

Quote: “Growing up you never know if you can get this far but it was always my dream. Now that the team has qualified, I need keep working to make the roster. There’s always competition and young guys coming up, so you always have to be ready to work hard. You always have to be prepared because there’s always someone who wants to come and take your job.”