by Brendan Sagara

A two-time national champion. An All-American. The architecht of one of the nation’s top high school volleyball teams. The first female former Vulcan athlete to become a collegiate head coach and a university administrator. Former Vulcan women’s volleyball star and new City Bank UH Hilo Hall of Famer Glennie Adams is a winner, pure and simple. Anyway you cut it, there’s no other way to say it.

On the playing court and off of it, Adams has distnguished herself as one of the most accomplished Vulcan athletes in nearly three decades of UH Hilo’s intecollegiate existence

Glennie Adams

As a star on the Vulcan women’s volleyball teams of the late 1970’s and early ‘80’s, Adams combined the hands of an artist, the mind of a coach and an unparalleled will to help UH Hilo vault to national prominence.

As a setter and outside hitter her first three seasons in UH Hilo Red, White and Blue, Adams was a rarity, a talented athlete who knew how to get the best out of her gifts.

“Glennie was one of the few athletes who were able to maximize their athletic ability,” former Vulcan coach Sharon Peterson said. “She wasn’t really big physically, but she had the knack of getting a lot of extension and a strong wrist snap out of her swing, and as a setter she could distrbute the ball to all areas of the court for us.”

For her individual efforts, Adams earned first-team All-America distinction.

But what truly seperated Adams from the pack was her ability to lead and elevate the play of her teammates. Hampered by a knee injury during her senior season, Adams could no longer run the court as the Vulcans’ setter and could no longer leap to attack at the net. So she adjusted. Limited to back row duties throughout the season, Adams became even more of an anamoly–a back row player who could dominate a game.

“There was one game during Glennie’s senior season that I think gives you an idea of just what kind of player she was,” Peterson said. “We were playing Simon Fraser and getting beat pretty bad. All of a sudden she makes a play here and a play there, and the tide began to turn. Glennie’s energy and confidence level lifted us that night and we came back and won. After the game, their coach came over and pointed at Glennie and said ‘There. That’s the reason we lost right there.’ She was one of the very few who could change a game single-handedly.”

With her mind at full health and her legs worn, Adams would bring in the Vulcan setters in prior to games to go over game plans and strategy, a practice that was unknown to Peterson until just a couple of years ago.

“Glennie was a team player, through and through,” Peterson said. “She was so smart as a player and even back then, had a lot of a coach in her. Hearing about her pre-game meetings with our setters all those years ago amazes me. She has such a strong knowledge of the game.”

Following her senior campaign, Adams took her winning ways back to Oahu and helped turn University High School into a national prep power. For six years, UH Lab was unbeaten in 72 consecutive league contests, a mark that is highly unlikely to ever be matched. Three straight state titles and future college volleyball stars such as Tanya Fuamatu, Danielle Robbins, Roz Ripley and Grace Iose, resulted from Adams’ efforts.

Fuamatu, of course, went on to become a star in her own right at UH Hilo, earning National Player of the Year honors in 1993, while Robbins starred at UH-Manoa. Ripley and Iose also follwed Adams’ path to the Big Island.

During her run with the Junior ‘Bows, Adams led UH Lab to annual national rankings, and a mythical national championship.

Seeking new challenges, Adams returned to Hilo as an assistant coach for the 1992 season, helping the Vulcans to an NAIA National Tournament appearance.

For the past 10 years, Adams has served as head volleyball coach at Chaminade University in Honolulu, leading the Silverswords to a Pac West Conference title in 1996 and the school’s first ever NCAA Division II national tournament in 2002. Despite a roster that did not include a single senior, Adams saw four Silverswords earn All-Pac West distinction.

Adams, who received a Master of Arts Degree in social work from UH-Manoa in 1986, has added duties as Chaminade’s Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Adminstrator.

For Adams, the winning all started at UH Hilo.

“I think just being a part of winning is special in itself,” Adams said. “Winning was such a big part of the experience back then and it really does feel good. It was a very special time for me, not only being part of the Vulcan program, but also being a part of the Hilo community.”

Already a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame since 1990, Adams has now rightfully earned her induction to the City Bank UH Hilo Athletic Hall of Fame.

“What a treat,” Adams said of her induction. “Looking back on it now from the other side of the fence, as a coach and an administrator, I realize that I was really lucky. As a student-athlete, you just learn so much about time management and self discipline. You have to put in a heck of a lot more work than the average college student, and that carries over into your life after college.