Kim Willoughby

Kim Marie Willoughby (born November 7, 1980) is an American indoor volleyball player. She is 5'11" (1.80 m) and is an outside hitter. In 2007, she played professionaly for the Italian Serie A League Familia Chieri. In April 2008, she joined the U.S. National Team. [ [http://volleyball.usoc.org/news/article/746 Kim Willoughby added to U.S. National Team] ] Willoughby made her Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, helping the USA to a silver medal.

High school and personal life

Kim was born in Houma, Louisiana and grew up in Napoleonville, Louisiana where she attended Assumption High School. [cite web |url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20080730/ARTICLES/807300301/0/HURBLOG |title=Assumption's Willoughby proud to be an Olympian |accessdate=2008-08-02 |author=Germain, Brent |date=2008-07-30 |work= |publisher="HoumaToday.com"] She not only played volleyball, but also lettered in track & field and basketball. She led her high school volleyball team to three consecutive state championships and was named the Louisiana Player of the Year her junior and senior seasons and was a First Team All-American.

Her parents are Vincent Gaines and Lula Willoughby. During Kim's junior year, her mother was in a car accident that led to two strokes and her being paralyzed from the waist down. More tragedy struck after Kim's boyfriend was shot after an argument and died, and she admits that she was angry and fought often when she was young. [ [http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=610/bio/ Growing Pains: NBC Olympic bio] ]

Four time U.S. Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda is her third cousin. [cite web |url=http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20080719/articles/807180334|title=Assumption's Willoughby heading to Olympics|accessdate=2008-08-02 |author=Germain, Brent |date=2008-07-18 |work= |publisher="The Daily Comet"]

Legal troubles

Willoughby has had a record with the law, for assault. In September 2008, she was arrested, was charged with first degree assault and eventually plead not guilty stemming fron an incident in December 2006.(September 15, 2008). " [http://starbulletin.com/breaking/breaking.php?id=7708 Willoughby pleads not guilty to assault] " "Star Bulletin". Retrieved on September 15, 2008.] The incident occurred when Willoughby allegedly caused serious bodily injuries to a woman, Sara Daniel, at Pipeline Cafe in Kakaako. The alledged assault led to Daniel suffering severe bone fractures in her face. Willoughby claimed self-defense, but prosecutor Sherri Chun disagreed, saying "This incident was not self-defense. She (Willoughby) followed her (Daniel) out of the club, and that's when this all happened." [(September 16, 2008) " [http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jbRyvTHaxQSzP5WZhts-gntsi3QA Beijing silver medalist Kim Willoughby faces assault charge] " "The Canadian Press". Retrieved on September 19, 2008.] Willoughby posted $50,000 bailDaranciang, Nelson (September 13, 2008) " [http://starbulletin.com/2008/09/13/news/story04.html Ex-UH athlete accused of assault] ". "Star Bulletin". Retrieved on September 14, 2008.] The trial for the case is scheduled to begin in May 2009, and if convicted, Willoughby faces a maximum of ten years in prison.

On June 28, 2007, Willoughby was charged with first and second degree assault, with both degrees stemming from separate incidents, one being in 2006. On June 8, 2001, Honolulu police charged her with abuse of a family or household member and third-degree assault. Five days after police charged Willoughby in the case, the victim filed for a temporary restraining order against her, leading to a judge to issue a three-year protective order.

College

At the University of Hawaiokinai, Willoughby was a three time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and was selected as the National Player of the Year in 2003. [ [http://www.avca.org/collegiate/DIawards/DIPOY03.asp Hawaii's Kim Willoughby selected as 2003 AVCA National Player of the Year] ] As a senior in 2003, she ranked second nationally in kills per game with 6.59 while adding averages of 2.99 digs and 0.62 aces per game. She hit .372 in her final collegiate season to help the Rainbow Wahine to the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament national semifinals for the second consecutive year. For her career, she averaged 5.91 kills per game, which ranked third-best in NCAA history at the time. Also had career totals of 1,440 digs, 194 aces and 291 blocks over 459 career games.

International competition

2008
*Olympic Games (Silver Medal)
*FIVB World Grand Prix (Preliminary Rounds)
*U.S. Olympic Team exhibition versus Brazil

References

External Links

* [http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Player/player.html?pid=12&aid=2413 Kim Willougby player profile at uhathletics.com]
* [http://usavolleyball.org/National/profiles/women/KimWilloughbyProfile.asp U.S. National Team bio]