When Patti Hardimon made the decision to quit volleyball at the beginning of this year, she thought about never playing again.

But while helping out at a clinic in Hawai'i, she met St. John's women's coach Joanne Persico-Smith, and her career was resurrected.

Hardimon, a 2003 Moanalua graduate, played two years for Chaminade, but said she was thinking about "permanently" leaving the game because of a "whole bunch of underlying factors, and most of it was unrelated to volleyball or Chaminade.

"When I did stop, I was in a drought. I didn't want to do anything."

Persico-Smith coaxed Hardimon into playing again, and the junior outside hitter has teamed with freshman libero Lena Yee (Moanalua) and freshman setter/defensive specialist Laurie Miyasato (St. Andrew's) to help St. John's to a 20-7 record.

"I think they are beautiful people and they have lovely character," Persico-Smith said. "It looks like they enjoy each other.

"They are very good volleyball players, they know the game and have great technique. Plus, they look good in red. It's been a complete pleasure to coach them."

Hardimon is fourth on the team in kills (2.88 per game) and second in digs (3.08). Yee leads the team in digs with 4.04, and Miyasato has played in eight games.

Two former players are also from Hawai'i and still involved with the team. Strength and conditioning coach Robyn Kurasaki (Maryknoll) is the school's career assists leader and graduate assistant Rosalyn Dang (Punahou) is second in services aces by one. They both completed their eligibility last year.

Persico-Smith also signed Punahou all-state player Puna Richardson in 2002, who is no longer on the team.

With her fondness for Hawai'i players, Persico-Smith came to the Islands looking for outside hitters and defensive specialists, and Hardimon mentioned Yee. But Persico-Smith also brought Hardimon on a recruiting trip in July.

Hardimon said knowing Yee and Miyasato were going to be in New York helped in her decision to play again.

"I would have definitely regretted it (if I didn't play again)," Hardimon said. "I like the decision I made, definitely."

Yee is also happy about Hardimon's decision.

"On the court, I feel like Patti is my other half," she said. "She's on the back row with me. I call where she hits line or angle, but she doesn't listen to me. She told me the opponents hear me, so she does the opposite."

Yee said she "had no idea what St. John's was (like). People were just like, 'They have a really good basketball team,' " she said. But she committed immediately after taking her recruiting trip, and said at the time that it wouldn't matter if she were the only player from Hawai'i on the team.

"I didn't really think that I was going to need them, but now that they're here, I really need them," Yee said. "I'm glad they came."

Yee and Miyasato are roommates, and both said that helped them work through being homesick.

"The third day we were here, we wanted to go shopping," Miyasato said. "It's nice having someone else who is totally lost like me.

"I'm glad I made it, because if I hadn't come here, I would have probably stayed in Hawai'i. It's such a different environment, with new people, and being close to the city, it's such a good experience."

Miyasato misses "the beach and friends, and the different kinds of food. The rice here is awful, but Patti is our mom; she has all the li hing mui. She passes it around in study hall ... she eases the food homesickness."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.