Rainbow Wahine take struggles on the road to California

There is a sense of urgency for Hawaii as it embarks on its second road trip of the year.

It’s not panic time … yet … for the Rainbow Wahine (11-6, 5-1) this early in the Big West volleyball season, but they know how they respond after last Saturday’s stunning home loss to Cal Poly will dictate the rest of the season and, very likely, their postseason fate.

The five-set defeat to Cal Poly, one which Hawaii led 2-0, has led to much soul-searching and even more video sessions. The Wahine have watched replays of their implosion against the Mustangs for hours over the past two days.

Seeing is believing.

“That game goes so fast and you think you did what the coaches were telling you to do,” sophomore setter Norene Iosia said as the team prepared to leave this afternoon for the mainland. “But in the film it shows you weren’t, some people not taking care of their assignments, the minor things that were little when they happened but became big later.

“One thing was that second touch where we got a dig but did nothing on the playable ball. Everyone needs to be mindful about being ready the entire time.”

That mind-set begins Friday when Hawaii travels to long-time rival Long Beach State (5-14, 2-4). Although the 49ers have struggled this season under first-year coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer, they are still tough inside the Walter Pyramid, where Hawaii lost in five on its last trip.

Iosia is one of several Wahine who grew up a short freeway drive away from Long Beach State and one who nearly played for the 49ers. McKienzie-Fuerbringer was Iosia’s club coach.

Another is senior setter-turned-hitter Kendra Koelsch. She said she knew of the Hawaii-Beach rivalry while growing up about 15 minutes away in Huntington Beach.

“I’m excited to battle with Long Beach,” said Koelsch, who has moved to right-side hitter this season. “I think there’s definitely a lot more pressure on us. Looking back now, our goal should have been to have that urgency all along.

“I think (against Cal Poly) we started playing scared, lost focus and there was a lack of confidence. I think we’ve learned from it and I’m excited for the team to come out the next time and use what we just learned and hopefully never do it again.”

For the first time since 1984, the Wahine-49ers contest won’t also pit Dave Shoji against Brian Gimmillaro. Both retired this year and were replaced by their former All-America setters, Robyn Ah Mow-Santos for Shoji and McKienzie-Fuerbringer for Gimmillaro.

“I think it’s always going to be the same (rivalry), us and Long Beach,” Ah Mow-Santos said. “And we’ll have more fans.

“For me, what’s important is how we come back from a loss like we had (Saturday). We knew it was a big game and our focus was great for the first two games. Going into the third everything was OK and then the mental breakdown in passing.

“It was ridiculous that just one skill took everyone out of their game.”

Hawaii will have little down time after the match with Long Beach State. The Wahine travel up the I-405 on Saturday to play Cal State Northridge (10-8, 4-2) in the Matadome.

“Jeff (CSUN coach Stork) always has them going for broke with a never-say-die attitude,” Ah Mow-Santos said. “It’s always a good game there.”