Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker blinked her eyes and couldn’t believe that she’s more than halfway through her volleyball career at CSUN, a journey that gets more fulfilling by the day.
For her first two seasons, the 2016 Kamehameha graduate received limited playing time. But now, she shares, the setter’s job and gets a chance to play in front of her family when the Matadors (6-12, 2-4 Big West) visit the Rainbow Wahine (9-6, 5-1) on Saturday. The match will be televised live on OC16.
“Going to CSUN has been a very memorable adventure. I can’t believe that I’m already halfway to graduating,” said the geography major with a 3.2 GPA. “Being away from home has given me so much space to grow as an individual. I have truly discovered who I am and have found my confidence and voice as a player and student. I would have never thought that my team would vote me as one of the three captains this year, but it reassured me that I was growing in the right direction, not just as a player but as a person.”
Before Makekau-Whittaker arrived, the Matadors underwent a brand transformation. In 2015, they dropped their full name, Cal State University Northridge, for the acronym CSUN, sort of like USC and UCLA.
Being a rookie, the 6-foot setter also had to accept a bit of change. She was a four-year starter at Kamehameha and not used to sitting on the bench. But that didn’t stop her from pursuing a starting spot.
“It was really hard for me learning a role besides being a starter, and I think many Division I athletes struggle with that,” she said. “Although I learned to accept that role, I continued to work hard to get more playing time.”
Makekau-Whittaker got serious in the weight room, her conditioning and took extra reps in the gym. She noted that setting is about consistency and rhythm and getting touches is important whether it’s a practice day or not.
She also talked to CSUN coach Jeff Stork about what she needed to work on and focused on those aspects at practice.
She’s averaging 4.6 assists per set, second to redshirt freshman Hannah Merjil’s 4.8 aps. Makekau-Whittaker is still waiting on her first kill of the season. As a Kamehameha senior, she was a setter/right-side hitter.
The Matadors have been chewed up in Honolulu, where they are 0-14 dating back to 1981. The Wahine have won seven straight against CSUN.
Makekau-Whittaker pointed out there’s no place like the Stan Sheriff Center and no better feeling than playing in front of family.
“After playing in so many gyms across the nation, there is no other atmosphere like playing in the Stan Sheriff,” she said. “The way that the game is such a production is such a cool experience, and the fact that my family gets to watch what I love to do is even better. It’s like I get to show what I’ve been working so hard for all the months that I was away from home.”
There’s one other Big West benefit. She’ll play against former Kamehameha teammate and UC Riverside senior Kaiulani Ahuna one last time on Oct. 30 at the Matadome.
“We continue to keep in touch and continue to support each other,” Makekau-Whittaker said. “I was so glad to see her doing so well at the beginning of the season. I truly miss setting her. She is an amazing player.”
The Matadors host the Wahine on Nov. 2 on their senior night. The last time CSUN beat UH was in 2014.
Sandwiched between the UH matches is a BIIF showdown that Makekau-Whittaker will keep an eye on. On Monday, Hilo and her sister Leialii Makekau-Whittaker host Kealakehe in the BIIF Division I semifinals. The winner likely gets a state berth, and the loser’s season is finished.
The older sister already had a handy piece of advice she lives by.
“I told her no matter what you do the one thing you can control is your energy and your heart, so always play with high energy and heart because at the end of the day that’s what makes you a great player,” Makekau-Whittaker said.