Chastity Nobriga puts up one of the toughest blocks on the team.
Star-Bulletin

Chastity Nobriga has learned that a house is only as strong as its materials. Tough as nails, the 5-foot-11 senior hitter for the University of Hawaii has built herself into a strong, versatile starter.

It has taken five painful years for Nobriga to earn a full-time role in the lineup. Through injury after injury, the Pearl City High graduate thought about quitting the sport she loved.

Five years later, she wouldn't have changed the blueprint that - finally - has her starting at the Special Events Arena tonight.

"You know the saying, 'If it doesn't kill you, it only makes you stronger?'" said Nobriga, whose top-ranked Wahine (2-0) face unranked Michigan in tonight's second match of the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic. "So many times during my freshman year (1992), I wanted to quit because I couldn't handle the pressure of not playing. Ever since I started volleyball in fifth grade, I was always a starter.

"But I knew it would get better. Even though I didn't play much, I wouldn't give those years up for anything. The people I met. The places I went. The experiences I had."

Her perseverance came at a price. There were hours of therapy for a strained back, neck and knee. Months of rehabilitation for torn ligaments surrounding her ankle.

"One month before my sophomore season, my ankle went out," said Nobriga. "I had spent my redshirt year working out. Ask Dave (coach Shoji). I had lost weight, toned up. My confidence was there. I had improved so much from my freshman year. Then my ankle went out and it dropped me back down to where I was my first season.

"I had to gain my balance again, even learn to walk. It was the worst time of my life."

The worst of times have turned into the best of times. Last weekend, Nobriga tied her career high in kills (seven) against both Florida and Nebraska, and broke her career block assist mark twice - five against the Gators and then seven against the Cornhuskers.

At the end of Game 5 against Florida, Nobriga played a part in Hawaii's four consecutive points that pulled out a 16-14 victory, putting down a kill then serving for the last three points. Against Nebraska, Nobriga's ace put the Wahine ahead 9-7 in Game 3. She helped complete the sweep of the defending national champs by serving the final two points.

"We know what kind of player Chas is so we're not surprised," said Wahine senior hitter Joselyn Robins. "Chas puts up a big block. I find it hard to get it past her. She's so versatile that she never found a spot of her own."

Being a jack-of-all-trades put Nobriga's name everywhere on the Hawaii depth chart: backup setter, backup middle blocker, backup outside hitter. The former Volleyball Monthly Fab 50 prep player has finally found a home on the right side, filling a void created by the graduation of captain Jenny Wilton.

"Chas has gone through four years of what you can call hell," said Shoji, "never finding a place where she could play on a regular basis and never really being healthy.

"This is a good example of someone having to go through major changes in her life, who trained and got stronger and more skilled. It's taken five years and it's gratifying to see her on the court."

Nobriga, a psychology major, will move to San Francisco next year to attend a culinary arts school. She is also considering playing pro beach volleyball and may hook up with former Wahine Kristal Attwood on the tour.

"For an all-around player like me, the beach game is great because you need to do a little bit of everything," said Nobriga. "But right now, I'm working on improving my indoor game. It's hard to think it's going to be over in a few months, but all good things come to an end.

"I see the season ending with us in the final four. I can't see it ending any other way. I don't think the five seniors are going to let it end any other way."

Nobriga has worked too hard to see the roof fall in now.

Friday: UCLA vs. Louisville, 5:30 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Michigan, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: UCLA vs. Michigan, 5:30 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Louisville, 7:30 p.m.
Monday: Michigan vs. Louisville, 3 p.m.; Hawaii vs. UCLA, 5 p.m.
Where: Special Events Arena.
Broadcasts: All matches live on KFVE-TV (Channel 5). All Hawaii matches live on KCCN (1420-AM).