Full Name: Lauren Ashlee Leialoha Duggins
Birth date:1-21-82
Birthplace: Fullerton, California, USA
Hometown: Fullerton, CA
Parents: Mike and Deb Duggins
Sibling: Sister, Elise - 18yrs.

My younger sister Elise! She’s going to attend CSULB next fall as a libero! She’s amazing!!

How big was your influence in Elise in playing volleyball, growing up, etc.?

Well, growing up she was the typical younger sister wanting to do anything and everything I did! Occasionally it was annoying but now I think of it as flattering! When I was young I played just about every sport so even when she wasn’t old enough to play she would be watching. I think that helped her understand sports at a higher level. Then when she started playing she shocked everyone with her amazing athletic abilities. She’s a phenomenal athlete! I think introducing her to sports at a young age was my sole influence in her playing volleyball. Growing up was a little different. I went away to UH the same year she started High School. That was a little tough at times because I wasn’t always there to help her through the teenage years.

What were the things you and your parents enjoyed doing?

We enjoyed doing a lot of things but mostly outdoors. For example every year we go on a family vacation to South Carlsbad State beach and camp there for a week. We surf, play beach volleyball and just have fun! We’ve been doing that for as long as I can remember!

What were the things you and your sister enjoyed doing together?

When we were younger we loved to play Barbies and with other toys like that. Then once we got a little older I liked to do the High School thing and would let her tag a long every once in a while!

What was it like growing up in Fullerton?

Fullerton was a great place to grow up. I only have great memories of my childhood! It’s a nice, quiet community!

Share something that the fans don’t know about you when you were still young.

When I was really young we had a bunny that we let loose in the front yard. One day I was playing outside and thought I’d eat some raisins. My mom freaked out when she saw brown in my mouth..It was really the bunny poop!! Oops!!

Do you have a boyfriend?

Yes! He’s a great person! He is one year older than I am and just graduated from UH. I met him through Jennifer Carey and Margaret Vakasausau. We’ve been together for about 3 years now!

Where do you usually hang out when you are not training?

One of my favorite things to do is sleep and one of my favorite places is at the beach so I really enjoy taking naps on the beach!! If I’m not at the beach then I’m at my family’s, friend's or boyfriend's house.

What do you usually do when you are not training?

During the school year I’m always busy with school work when I’m not training, but during the summer I enjoy surfing, sleeping, watching movies, and reading.

What makes you happy, sad or angry?

Usually if I’m in a bad mood it can be changed with ice cream!! 98% of the time I’m happy and in a good mood! If I don’t get enough sleep then sometimes I get a little cranky! Rude or selfish people make me angry and I get sad when I see people/kids being mean to others.

You played soccer in high school and you were an excellent soccer player, how do you do it? (I’m very impressed!)

Thank you!!! Honestly I don’t know how I did it! I owe a lot to my parents who were always supporting me, driving me to practices and planning their lives around my schedule. They are so amazing!

How big was the transition from playing soccer to volleyball?

I think the biggest transition is going from playing with your feet to your arms and hands! The timing for hitting and blocking was also a little weird in the beginning. I think being able to read what the opponent is going to do is something from soccer that helped me get started in volleyball as well as the quick foot movements.

Who taught you to play soccer? Volleyball? Influences? Did you play volleyball when you were still a kid?

My mom got me started in soccer. She was playing and so I started in a league when I was 5. I started volleyball when I was in 6th grade but hated it! I was 12 and the league only had a 14’s team. I quit after that season and then started again when I entered high school. Also, Misty May’s parents, Butch and Barbara May, were two of my first coaches. At the time Misty wasn’t as big as she is now, but she would come to our practices and I remember wanting to be like her! That family taught me a lot!!

When you won the Junior Nationals in 1999 with your club team, what was the first thing you did?

Honestly I don’t really remember the first thing I did! I was in shock for the first couple of days! I do remember hugging my friend on the team Roxanne super tight and then after we got our medals I ran and jumped on my parents!

What was the feeling of being the homecoming queen?

That was really exciting! I won with my really good friend so that made it so much better! It’s always nice to feel accepted by your peers!

Who was that friend who shared the homecoming queen award?

He is just a really good friend that I went to high school with! It was really nice that he was elected king. He deserved it!

Why were you wearing sneakers when you became homecoming queen?

That’s a funny story! I was a part of the student government and we were in charge of doing the whole homecoming thing. It just so happened that I got nominated for queen but still had to take care of my job. One of my responsibilities included getting every candidate for homecoming king or queen and their escorts ready to walk out at half-time. I put my shoes on with my dress because I was running all over the stadium. (We announce the king and queen at the half-time of our school's football game.) So I was so busy running around that by the time it was my turn to walk out on the field I didn’t even realize what I was wearing until it was too late! Everyone was laughing, but it suited my personality way more than high heels!

Why did you choose to play for University of Hawai’i?

When it was coming time to make a decision I had to choose between UCSB or UH. I have family in Hawaii and since my mom is from there we would visit often when I was younger. It just felt right! It was somewhat of an intuitive choice.

Did you ever get homesick when you were playing for Hawai’i?

After my parents dropped me off for double days it was busy busy busy until Christmas! Everything was so new and crazy for me that I didn’t have time to even think about missing my family! Plus I got to talk to them a lot over the phone and through email. They also came to many of the conference games throughout the season! The spring semester was a little slower and I got homesick every once in awhile!

Now that you’ve finished playing for UH, what are your other plans for school?

Right now I have a year and a half left before I graduate. I’d like to stay in school and get my masters, but we’ll see!

What do you think of the present team of UH?

I think they are really young but they’ll be fine next year. I don’t know that much but just like all new teams they need someone to step up to be a leader as well as a go to player. Once the new girls come in they’ll find their chemistry.

What do you think of Sanders and Gregory? How do you think Hawai'i will fare in the middle without you and Maja/Karin?

Sanders is a great player! She has great technique and puts up a huge block. The only thing she lacks is experience but she’ll pick it up fast! Gregory is a great girl but was originally an outside. She’s still making the transition to middle which I think is frustrating at times, but she’ll be o.k. She can still pound the ball on the outside which is something that most middles can’t do. Plus, they have Kanoe so they won’t need to worry about the sets!

Who are you closest to in the team? Who do you hang out with most of the time?

I have a different relationship with everyone on the team, but I’m probably closest to Nohea Tano and our manager Ryan Tsuji. We have the same humor and like to laugh a lot!

Who is the nicest/sweetest Rainbow Wahine?

Definitely Karin! She’s ALWAYS happy! I don’t think she’s ever said anything bad about anyone! Ashley Watanabe is up there as well!

In your opinion, what are the strengths of each player in your team? Describe each player in each position.

I’ll do a few…

• Nohea is extremely quick and so athletic! She also offers laughs and a great attitude!
• Kim is a phenomenal athlete! She can do anything she puts her mind to. She gave our team a lot of confidence.
• Kanoe has great hands and can make any adjustment needed. She’s a natural and works hard!
• Maja has a sense of calm about her. She’s somewhat of our spiritual leader out there on the court. Also extremely talented and powerful.
• Ashley is an all around great person and defensive player. She has the best work ethic out of everyone and one of the best attitudes. She’s going to contribute a lot next season.
• Karin will do anything and everything to get better and to make the team better. She has a fantastic work ethic and a good knowledge of the game. She’s awesome on the beach!
• Melissa can dig anything!!!! She is a player that gets her job done and does it well! Always a great team player!
• Lily is a natural and knows a lot about the game.
• Suzy is a big block and can pound the ball. She’s also a great passer.
• Melody is a huge block and can pound the ball. She’s going to be a big asset in the middle or right side next year as well as the team captain.
• Cayley has the best work ethic and dedication to the team. She may not be able to set with Kanoe at UH, but look for her in other positions (mostly right side.)
• Alicia is so amazingly strong! She is one of the strongest on the team and can put the ball down! She’ll help the team a lot next year!
• Julianna, like I said before, is a huge block and a go to hitter. She’ll be counted on a lot next season.
• Kari will do better as she gets more experience. Her great work ethic and coachable attitude will take her far.
• Teisa is a beautiful person who works hard. She is very skillful in every position!

How influential does Dave Shoji have been in your volleyball career? Why?

He gave me the opportunity to play at UH even though I’m about ½ the size of other middles so I owe him a lot for giving me a chance!

How would you differentiate the coaching styles of Dave, Charlie and Kari?

Dave has a little bit of an older style. Charlie is really good at tactics. He can tell you to change something small and it makes a huge difference in your technique. He’s great. Kari likes to hang back and then help out. For example if I’m not doing something right she’ll wait and see if I fix it myself and then if I don’t she’ll help me out. She gave great advice when trying to work with the setters.

What was the feeling when you played for the first time in front of the Stan Sheriff Center crowd? Do you get scared or pressured to play in front of them?

I was scared to death!! I couldn’t concentrate on volleyball at all! Luckily the ball never came to me that first game, but over time it got easier. The past three years I learned how to use the crowd to pump myself and the team up instead of being afraid and nervous!!

Are you overwhelmed by the number of fans you have in Hawai’i? How about your fans in the Philippines?

I can’t believe how big volleyball is in Hawaii! The fans are fantastic! I can’t say enough great things about our fans. Not until recently did I know how big UH volleyball is in the Philippines! That’s great! I wish we had come over there!

When you earned Third Team All-America honors, who was the first person you called and how does it feel to become an All-American?

I called my mom and dad first! I couldn’t believe it! It is a huge honor and something that never even entered my mind as something that I could achieve! I’m very lucky to have received it! God has blessed my life in MANY ways!

When you played against Stanford in 2003, what was on your mind when you made a side set? You were so happy when the ball just dropped in front of them, everyone was surprised to see you dancing or cheering, what did you feel at that time?

That game was extremely tiring! The team was playing okay, but emotionally we were just dead! After the side set I was so happy that it went down that I did a crazy cheer to try and get some energy started on our side! It worked a little!

What was the funniest experience you had when you were still playing for Hawai’i?

There were so many!!!… For some odd reason I think it’s hysterical when someone falls or trips (only if they’re okay!) There were many falls over the 4 years that I won’t forget!

What was the saddest experience?

I think the saddest was when our team doctor lost his fight with cancer. Everyone in the athletic department was distraught! He was a great guy and is really missed!

What was the craziest thing you did on and off the court?

The craziest thing I did on the court was probably the side dump during the Stanford game! And off the court…I’m afraid of heights so the craziest thing I did was jump off of Waimea rock (It’s in Hawaii.) It’s not that high, but I was terrified!

Do you have any plans outside of volleyball?

Not at the moment. I’m kind of enjoying life without having to train all the time!

Do you still want to pursue teaching?

Yes! I’ll hopefully be teaching soon when I finish school.

Do you plan to coach volleyball someday?

I hope to coach some day! I like coaching the younger kids so maybe next season?!

What is your daily training routine?

Well, right now I’m not playing so I don’t have to work out a lot. When I was playing though I went through about three phases. During the summer is just getting in condition and getting strong to do skills training in the fall. Then in the fall we do a lot of skills and team playing. Then in the spring it’s refining those skills as well as getting stronger and staying in shape.

You played for Samorodok in Russia, how different was it from playing in the United States?

It was an amazing experience and opened my eyes to so many more things going on in the world. I’ve realized how wonderful my life is and that America isn’t as bad as I thought it was. We are so free yet so many people take advantage of that. I also met some wonderful people that I will be life long friends with. Volleyball was completely different. They play a different defense and the game is a lot faster. I liked how they used the back row attackers more often than UH did as well as more set plays. I also liked how all the players can play all the positions. I was mostly trained as a middle but in Russia I had to do a lot of other things. The climate was a struggle at first because I couldn’t breathe, but I got used to it after a while. I got depressed after the first month because I didn’t see the sun at all! That’s a huge shocker when coming from Hawaii! It also took about 10 minutes to put on all my clothes just to go outside! I don’t know how people live like that!! It was a great experience!

Who are your favorite players?

That’s a hard question because I don’t really know names! There are tons of great players out there! Most of the time they don’t get any recognition! I like any player that works hard, has a great attitude and is a team player!

You mentioned before that you want to play beach volleyball, what are the preparations you are doing now to switch to beach volleyball?

I’m still not sure what I want to do! Right now I’m staying in shape, but not necessarily training. I’m just enjoying the game and playing for fun. I would need a lot of work and training to get started!

Who will be your beach partner?

That’s so up in the air! I haven’t even discussed it with them, but off the top of my head maybe Nohea Tano or Jenn Carey. I’m really not sure.

Song: My Hands Were Never Dry
Band: Woody (www.woodytheband.tk)
Movie: Finding Nemo
Actor: Brad Pitt
Actress: Julia Roberts
Food: Ice Cream!!
TV Show: Who’s Line Is It?, Everyone Loves Raymond
Sport aside from Volleyball: Soccer
Athlete: Many!
Book: Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter, Bible
Color: Green
City/Country: Hawaii :)
Role Models: My parents

Mac or PC?

Both! They have good and bad sides!

Do you sing in the shower? If yes, to what tune?

Of Course! Usually the last one that I hear on the radio and it’s stuck in my head~!

Do you play any musical instrument?

I used to play the piano.

What would you rather be, a model or an actress?

Actress

Has anyone approached you and told you to pursue a modeling career?

No

Do you love to dance? Who is your favorite Rainbow Wahine dance partner? Who is the better dancer?

Yes, I love to dance! I enjoy dancing with Nohea Tano-she’s way better than I am!!

Fantasia Barrino, Diana De Garmo or Jasmine Trias?

Fantasia

If you were a movie star, who do you want to do a movie with?

Brad Pitt!! Or Josh Hartnett!! :)

Thank you all so much for being such HUGE fans!! I really wish we could’ve come over to the Philippines to meet you all! Maybe one day!! I hope you enjoy the seasons to come and I wish you all good health and fortune!! Always remember to smile!!

Through Anna’s email and then she can forward it to me! Thx!!

Credits: Special thanks to Lauren and Grandpa Doyle Duggins for their time and effort in making this Q&A possible.

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