Taecia Kukui Akana '17 Recruiting Profile

Welina mai kaua!

My name is Taecia Kukui Akana. I have challenged myself with honors and AP classes and hold a 3.4 / 4.0 GPA.  I am currently in the 12th grade at Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama in Honolulu, Hawai'i.   I am a good candidate for a college volleyball team because of my positive energy, good sportsmanship, leadership ability, competitive drive, and my eagerness to be the best player I can be for my team. What I think separates me from other recruits is my strength not only on court, but also in the classroom. I also believe I am a very adaptable and coachable player that is willing to do whatever it takes to be better. I hope to someday, not only play college volleyball at a high caliber, but also help a college volleyball team win a national championship. 

From 2013-2014 I was Captain of my Freshman Volleyball and Basketball teams and then in 2014-2015 I was Co-Captain of my JV Volleyball and Basketball teams.  During the high school season, I was used as a starting 6 Rotation Outside Hitter during my freshman and sophomore years and in club, I am Captain for the Maunalani 18s-Stahl and was trained to be a Utility at Set / OH / Opp / Lib.   I am a multi-sport student-athlete and held leadership position in all of my sports and extracurricular efforts.  During the Basketball season of 2014, in my sophomore year, I was injured with a torn ACL/Meniscus and worked for the next year and half to fully rehab the leg and prevent any further or re-injury when I returned to the court. For this reason, I was too late to join the Varsity level in my Junior year.

This season I am playing on the Maunalani Volleyball Club 3rd Degree-18s Stahl, which will be my 9th year playing club volleyball at a high level since 8 years old. I want to continue to push myself at a competitive college while playing the sport that I love.

I believe in being a key utility player with starting experience in every position and I look forward to being able to contribute meaningfully to any team depending on their needs.  I am not a stranger to adversity, am not afraid of hard work, and am willing to do what it takes to get where I want to go! I believe in the power of a "ONE TEAM" philosophy and am very coachable and passionate about sports and everything I do.  I believe in serving my team by always working on pinpoint passing to target to give my setters a triple threat opportunity, and as a setter, to establish my middles and give my OH and RS single blocks for better opportunities for consecutive kills. I always believe in giving my best effort, sacrificing my body, and hours of time to train in the off-season in-door, out-door on grass and sand, running and lifting to better myself to contribute to the team goal. Besides being an Outside Hitter, I have been used at starting Middle Hitter, Setter, Opposite, Right Side Hitter, and Lib on each of my previous club teams.

After high school, I want to attend a college that combines great academics with an opportunity to play at a high level in a competitive collegiate program.  I am open to playing in all divisions and hope to attend a college where I can make a difference to the team on and off the court. Thank you very much for taking the time to learn about me. If you have the time, please check out my website, which contains more videos and information about myself