Wahine seek redemption for losses to Gophers

So much has changed in the four months since Hawaii last saw Minnesota on the volleyball court.

Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji has retired, opposite Nikki Taylor and three other seniors have used up their indoor eligibility and the Golden Gophers are learning what life will be like without All-America hitter Sarah Wilhite, the national player of the year last season, as well as five other seniors.

What also will change Thursday is that this is not an NCAA tournament match, it is a spring exhibition. It also is on Hawaii’s home court and not Minnesota’s.

However what remains for the Rainbow Wahine is the sting of being eliminated by the Gophers for a second consecutive postseason.

“We’ve lost to them two years in a row and we really want to beat them,” Hawaii junior middle Emily Maglio said. “It’s going to be a tough match, but I think it will be really fun.

“We’re missing starters, they’re missing starters (from December). It will be interesting.”

“Considering that they kicked us out last season makes it even more exciting,” Wahine freshman setter Norene Iosia added. “So much has changed since December.

“We lost Dave (Shoji), all our seniors who contributed. We have people stepping into new positions and we’re in the process of rebuilding. But everyone is still going hard in practice, holding each other accountable. We are working hard to get better.”

Besides Taylor, who was injured three points into the NCAA second-round match, gone from the Hawaii roster are Annie Mitchem, who tied Wilhite with a match-high 13 kills on Dec. 3, reserve setter Tayler Higgins and defensive specialist Katiana Ponce.

Of the nine Gophers who played in the 25-17, 25-17, 25-19 sweep, three other seniors besides Wilhite are gone. They are middle Hannah Tapp; her twin, Paige, the Senior CLASS Award winner in volleyball; and defensive specialist Katie Schau.

“We’re missing big pieces, they’re missing big pieces, “ Wahine associate head coach Jeff Hall said. “It’s a great opportunity for two programs to challenge new players to rise to the level of the occasion.

“Hugh (Minnesota coach McCutcheon) will have them well-prepared. He’s a great teacher and a great coach. It will be a challenge for us. They are going to be more physical than we are. The questions will be: Can we defend them so we are in rallies and can we win big points?”

As he did in last month’s exhibition with Osaka and will in next Tuesday’s exhibition with Kansas, Hall will coach the team. New head coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos is expected to join the program April 1.

“I do have a connection to Minnesota, so that is cool,” said Hall, who grew up near UM’s campus in Minneapolis. “We’re looking forward to playing a great team as opposed to someone who comes in and doesn’t challenge us. You don’t learn a lot when you beat up on an inferior team.

“We learned a lot from Osaka. They were a well-skilled team. Minnesota will test us with their blocking scheme and we’ll see how good our offense can be. I like where we’re at.”

Minnesota, which arrived Saturday, has been training in the mornings and using the afternoons for some sightseeing, including going to the North Shore on Monday.

“It was pumping out there,” McCutcheon said of the surf. “We’re trying to get a balance in doing work and having the Hawaii experiences. It’s the first time for many of our players in the islands.

“We know Hawaii has been training a lot with the beach season. We just started our 20-hour (allowed spring practice) phase. We’re excited to play in the Stan Sheriff Center and grateful for the opportunity. Right now, it’s about us getting better.”

Although Wilhite did make the trip, she will not play in the exhibition.

The Gophers are fairly young, with seven freshmen and three sophomores. However that sophomore class includes All-America setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson.

Minnesota finished 29-5 last season, losing to eventual national champion Stanford in the national semifinals. It was the third time in eight years the Gophers reached the final four, including 2015, when they defeated the Wahine in the regional final to do so.

“We feel the sting from those losses,” Hawaii junior defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson said. “They’ve been the ones to terminate our season two years in a row. We’re hungry.”