Rainbow Wahine rework lineup for weekend’s big matches

Back in the gym.

Back to work.

And, in some respects, back to the drawing board. Or, as in the case of the Hawaii volleyball team, back to the dry-erase board used to keep practice stats.

On the morning of the 20th anniversary of the Stan Sheriff Center’s opening, the Rainbow Wahine were in adjacent Gym I reworking a lineup that would end their two-match losing streak. The players and coaches have had more than a week to revisit what went wrong on the disastrous road trip where Hawaii got smacked by Cal State Northridge in three and then fell short in five the following night at Long Beach State.

The Wahine have also had a week off from play, a good thing for those with injuries: junior middle Olivia Magill (leg) and freshman defensive specialist Savanah Kahakai (knee). Kahakai has been cleared to practice and expected to be cleared to play for Friday’s match against Cal Poly. Magill was cleared for light workouts and was expected to be cleared to fully participate in Wednesday afternoon’s practice.

Also missing practice due to illness was sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor, who has not recovered fully from her right elbow sprain incurred over the summer.

It is a concern that, nearing the midpoint of Big West play, Hawaii is in this position of lineup uncertainty.

"It is a little scary," Wahine coach Dave Shoji admitted after practice. "We lost twice. We’re looking at the whole lineup.

"We need to make sure we’ve got the best six out there at any one time."

To that end, under strong consideration is a 6-2 offense that alternates the setter in back-row rotations. That would mean both sophomore Tayler Higgins, the starter for all 17 matches, alternating with freshman Kendra Koelsch, who has played sparingly in 16 matches, most often as a blocking sub.

"She hasn’t had a chance to run much offense," Shoji said of Koelsch. "We’re giving her a shot to do that."

The libero position also is under scrutiny. Senior Sarah Mendoza has been there for all 17 matches and leads the team in digs (235) and is third in aces (16), but she was being pushed hard by Kahakai until Kahakai injured a knee during the exhibition with Toyota Auto Body on Sept. 17.

There’s also the question of who will replace junior left-side Tai Manu-Olevao and her team-leading 3.45 kill average and 30 aces Sunday against UCSB. She will miss her third match, sitting out for religious beliefs.

The leading possibility looks to be freshman Megan Huff, who is still making the conversion from middle blocker to left-side hitter. If Magill is unable to play, that leaves freshman Emily Maglio as the replacement.

That scenario then leaves Hawaii very young and Shoji with the substantial dilemma on defense since Huff and Maglio haven’t seen much time in the back row; Huff has served once, Maglio not at all.

While no one is looking past Friday’s match with Cal Poly, one result from Saturday raised Hawaii’s collective eyebrows. UC Santa Barbara swept CSUN, the seventh straight season the host Gauchos defeated the Matadors in straight sets at their Thunderdome.

"We know Santa Barbara is a good team," Shoji said. "They’re capable of beating anybody. 

"We’re not good enough that we can just show up and play. We have to do all the little things it takes to win."

Notes

Sunday’s match with UC Santa Barbara has been moved up to 4 p.m. to accommodate UCSB’s travel arrangements. … Hawaii will officially celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sheriff Center during the intermission of Friday’s volleyball match against Cal Poly, the alma mater of the late Stan Sheriff, who was UH athletic director from 1983 to 1992.