It was the oddest of feelings on this particular Saturday, on which Hawaii practiced with a commonplace rainbow arcing over Manoa and the uncommon uncertainty of what today, NCAA Volleyball Selection Sunday, would bring hanging over Gym I.
With the exception of 1992 — when the Rainbow Wahine went 15-12 and pretty much knew there’d be no postseason, with the NCAA field holding just 32 teams — the only questions for Hawaii in previous years were who, where and when the next match would be. This season at 20-7 and on the at-large bubble with an RPI of 39, the question is: Will there be a next match?
The Big West runners-up will find out during today’s 4 p.m. broadcast on ESPNU. Also to be answered is: Will senior libero Savanah Kahakai get a shot at moving up to at least No. 2 on the program’s all-time dig list.
The first Farrington Governor to play for Hawaii began her final year outside of the top 10 (1,001) but continued to move up weekly, passing Wahine all-time greats along the way. All but one were All-America honorees, including then-No. 3 Tita Ahuna (1,384) on Nov. 9.
Kahakai, with double-digit digs in 22 of 27 matches this year, is at 1,403 digs. She needs 14 to pass Elizabeth Ka‘aihue (1,416) for No. 2.
Very reachable … if given the chance.
“I hope she gets the chance, I hope the team gets this chance, because I think they’ll turn heads,” said Hawaii coach and All-America setter Robyn Ah Mow-Santos. “Savanah’s been climbing (on the dig list) and keeps getting better. She’s hungry.
“I think we are a lot alike. Public school. We don’t think about records. We’re just thinking about playing ball, doing the best every time. Same with school. I didn’t like it, but you do it in order to play volleyball.
“She’s doing what she needs to do in order to do what she loves.”
That Kahakai is Academic All-Conference and a UH Manoa scholar is more of a surprise to her than the success she has had on the volleyball courts, both indoor and beach (First-team All-Big West in 2016, AAU Pan Pacific champion in 2013).
“I knew coming into college I needed to keep my schoolwork up in order to play,” said Kahakai, who graduates in May with a degree in family resources. “I knew I could be successful playing, but I’m more proud about being able to manage school and volleyball, and come out successful in both.
“It was about being disciplined. I carry a lot of pride with me, being the first Governor, being I think the first in my family to graduate college, just the second scholarship libero, showing people that, even if you don’t come from much, you can achieve what you put your mind to.
“There’s always hope. You just have to believe.”
Redshirt junior reserve setter Faith Ma’afala was Kahakai’s beach partner for the AAU championship as well as her teammate in club. She said she’ll miss her cousin’s passion and leadership.
“There’s a reason she’s a captain,” said Ma’afala, who sat out last season after playing two years at Southern Utah. “She demands the best out of everyone and expects it. When she speaks, she’s heard.
“I hope she has the chance to keep playing and making a statement. She’s representing more than herself and her family. She has a bunch of kids who come from the same background that look up to her.”
Dozens of Kahakai’s family members wore T-shirts on senior night that read: “Just a Kid from Kalihi.” Kahakai knows the journey she’s successfully made is much farther than the 6 miles from Kam IV public housing to Manoa.
Note
All-American Kim Willoughby (2000-03) is UH’s all-time digs leader (1,440).
