Many college students in Hawaii go island-hopping on spring break. The Rainbow Wahine volleyball team is doing so with purpose.
Hawaii is mixing youth clinics with two practices over the next two days at Keaau High and UH-Hilo gym. It will be a different environment from the recent practices in Gym II, but it’s no less serious as the Wahine also look ahead to the March 22 spring match with Texas, the defending Big 12 champion.
“The girls are excited and it should be fun,” incoming senior setter Norene Iosia said about the next seven days. “It’s a new team for us (without the 2018 seniors). We’ve been focusing more on the little things, working on our skills.
“We haven’t played a game in a while. We know Texas will be really good and we’re excited to play them, go all out.”
Iosia is the lone returning setter and, with the loss of six seniors and freshman Trinity Castaneda transferring out this semester, Iosia has had limited options when running an offense. The current roster has returning outside hitters Kirsten Sibley and McKenna Ross, and middles Sky Williams and Kamalei Krug, the latter not cleared following surgery.
The Wahine also picked up two transfers from Oregon this spring in junior hitter Jolie Rasmussen and senior defensive specialist Kyra Hanawahine. Hanawahine joins Rika Okino and Janelle Gong as those looking to replace Tita Akiu at libero.
The Wahine conclude their spring training block in Pepperdine’s four-team tournament on March 30. The field includes USC and Point Loma.
Rainbow Wahine visit
Hawaii’s women’s team is in town for two days’ worth of free events
Saturday, at Keaau High
• *Open practice, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, at UH-Hilo gym
• Youth clinic, grades 4-8, 8:30 a.m. sign-in, 9 a.m. clinic
• Youth clinic, grades 9-12, 10 a.m. sign-in, 10:30 a.m. clinic
• Youth clinic, grades 4-12, 2 p.m. sign-in, 2:30 p.m. clinic (must understand Hawaiian)
• *Open practice, 4 p.m.
*-Autograph session to follow
Note: A scrimmage on Sunday was canceled, but a third Hawaii language clinic was added