DES MOINES, Iowa >> It’s a unique mirror through which Casey Castillo looks. It’s a two-way one where the Hawaii freshman utility player sees herself on the other side of the glass because her hard work — and that of the “B” team — is reflected in the success of the Rainbow Wahine this volleyball season.
At times it becomes a three-sided one where the 6-foot-3 PrepVolleyball.com’s Top 50 2015 member has to see herself as the No. 3 middle behind all-conference teammates Olivia Magill and Emily Maglio; the No. 2 opposite behind Big West Player of the Year Nikki Taylor; and as a situational left-side player both as a luxury to give her reps out there and as a necessity when nothing else is working on the outside.
“She’s had to be the filler at three positions,” Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said as the Rainbow Wahine prepared for their NCAA third-round match against two-time defensing national champion Penn State. “She’s been a real trouper about it.
“Next year? That’s a good question. We’ll probably try her in all three spots in the spring.”
But that is several months away and the focus is on extending Hawaii’s 23-match winning streak and getting to the regional final for the first time since 2009. Friday’s stage is a big one nationally for the Rainbow Wahine (28-1) and “it’s definitely been a great journey,” Castillo said. “To have it come together like this is unreal.”
The Santa Fe Christian (Calif.) product could be used at any of the three attacking positions or, as happened in last Friday’s NCAA first-round five-set win over TCU, as a back-row passer. Or, as happened in last Saturday’s second-round sweep of Texas A&M, she might not play at all.
“I’m at peace with it,” said Castillo, who played just one match as a high school junior when rehabbing from an ACL surgery. “I came into this as a freshman knowing I would be a practice player, on the ‘B’ side pushing the other side.
“I want to help the team however I can and, if I get in, even more so.”
Castillo has played sparingly in 19 matches, seeing action in 23 sets. She had played outside and middle before but moving to the right as an opposite had its frustrating moments when learning a new position.
“It’s gotten easier,” she said. “I’m more comfortable in other positions but I need to support Nikki and be able to be her backup.”
Castillo, who grew up playing on the beaches in San Diego, is planning to play a second sport for Hawaii in spring. Head beach coach Jeff Hall, also the associate head indoor coach, is looking forward to it.
“I can’t wait to see her on the beach, I’m very excited about it,” Hall said. “You definitely see her beach skills in the gym. She was good when she got here but she’s become a very good, well-rounded volleyball player.
“That’s what we like most in our program, we have volleyball players. If you play multiple positions, you have multiple skill sets and your value increases. That’s beach volleyball, multiple skill sets. That’s Casey.”
Castillo also has a number of nicknames, the one most often used is “The Quipster” for her witty, quick-fire comments.
“She’s got great wit,” Shoji said. “She has something to say about everything and it’s usually pretty right on.”
“That’s my favorite thing about her,” freshman outside hitter McKenna Granato said. “We’re very similar in that we’re both sarcastic.
“I’m impressed with her playing all those positions. She does a really good job of listening to Dave and does what is asked.”
Both Granato and Castillo were asked to play back-row together for the first time in a match in Set 1 last Friday against TCU. Hawaii’s serve-receive and passing had broken down and the freshmen helped steady it out.
“They have good passing skills and it was what we needed at the time,” Shoji said.
Shoji played a large part in Castillo’s decision to play for Hawaii. She had narrowed her choices to UH and the University of San Diego, about a 30-minute drive from her Oceanside home.
“USD was a little too close to home and since I went to a small, private school, it felt like it would be the same culture,” she said. “I wanted something out of my comfort zone.
“Hawaii is everything volleyball, the community support like no other place. I wanted to play for a program like that with a great coaching staff and become the best player I could be. I feel like I’ve already improved, learning to be a smarter hitter and diversify my shots.”
One other thing that has changed is her major. She originally wanted a graphic design degree but the demands of that major did not mix with the demands of volleyball; Castillo expects to switch to business.
That meshes well with how Hawaii has treated its NCAA tournament journey. Wednesday’s preparation included a business-like practice at Drake University’s Knapp Center, about a five-minute drive from where the Wahine will have their first practice in the Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s really exciting,” Castillo said. “We’re pretty optimistic. As long as we play our game, like was did when we showed our diversity against Texas A&M … we’re pretty optimistic. We have more to do.”
NCAA Women’s Volleyball
At Des Moines, Iowa
Friday’s third round
>> No. 4 Minnesota (28-4) vs. No. 21 Illinois (21-12), 1 p.m. HST
>> No. 8 Penn State (28-5) vs. No. 7 Hawaii (28-1), 30 minutes after completion of first match
Saturday’s fourth round
>> Friday’s winners, 3:30 p.m. HST
>> Online: ESPN3
>> Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM (Hawaii matches only)
