Wahine greeted by former star Gustin

GORICA, Slovenia >>  The European trip taken by Hawaii is one of growth, as a volleyball team and as individuals. The Rainbow Wahine saw that preoblikovanja, that transformation, personified when former all-conference player Maja Gustin greeted them inside the Slovenian national team’s HIT training center.

Gustin didn’t drive some two hours from her home in Celje just to see two of her former teams — Hawaii and Slovenia — face each other in a very informal friendly. She came to reconnect with the part of her life that molded her as a person and the one she will continue to become.

“When I played around the world, in many different places, I always talk about Hawaii, how much I received there,” the 35-year-old Gustin said. “The nature in Hawaii is beautiful of course but even more beautiful are the people of Hawaii.

“There is a transformation of a person when you live there. I lived there for five years and I grew as a person in more positive ways because of so much love and kindness that I received. It hits your heart and it stays there forever.”

Gustin left her mark on Hawaii as well, playing middle and outside from 2000-03, with three NCAA final four appearances. She might be remembered more for her sweet nature and kindness.

“She is such a good person and it’s good to see her so happy, and having a family,” Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji said. “I know she had such a great experience at Hawaii.”

Gustin continued her pro career until two years ago when she gave birth to her daughter. She and her fiance, Matjaz Ceraja, who is aiming to represent Slovenia in judo for a third consecutive Olympics next year, welcomed their second daughter three months ago. 

“It was exciting when I heard that Hawaii was coming here,” she said. “It was, well, if I cannot come to Hawaii because I have two little babies, then Hawaii is coming to me.

“I am so happy, beyond the words happy, to see the team, to see Dave (Shoji). I am really happy now.”

Gustin could not stay for the entire match, one that Slovenia won 25-22, 25-11, 25-18, 25-18. (As happened Tuesday with the Italian national team, the match went to four sets).

Hawaii again struggled with serve-receive when playing with the FIVB-regulation volleyball. The Rainbow Wahine also agreed to play by international rules, which kept the middle blockers in the back row to serve and play defense.

Still, Hawaii received good reviews from the Slovenian team.

“I was surprised, they played really good against us,” assistant Matjaz Hafner said. “The are not used to this ball and their biggest problem was passing. We have a good serve and that was the key to the match.

“They were good at blocking and I like the setter (Tayler Higgins). It was hard to judge the middles because of the passing, but overall I thought they played good.”

No official statistics were kept but unofficially Hawaii was aced eight times, better than the 18 produced by Italy on Tuesday. The Wahine also gave up runs of points, outscored 9-1 to end Set 2 and 9-1 to begin Set 3.

That they remained in every set save for the second was a good sign, Shoji said. But he hopes that the players will be quicker to make adjustments during their next matches with Slovenian and Czech club teams.

“It was a tough day trying to get here,” Shoji said of the 400-mile trip that began in Milan and included the match across the Italian border. “Obviously we played a very good national team. We just couldn’t handle their serves. We were out of system so much that there is no chance to win like that.

“This is a good learning experience for the players and the coaches. But we need the players to pick things up quicker and make the adjustments faster.”

Hawaii has a day off from the gym Thursday and will have to adjust to having just one setter for its match on Friday in Maribor, Slovenia, and beyond. Reserve setter Kendra Koelsch cut her right hand when diving for a ball and hitting the bottom of the referee’s stanchion on the opening play of Set 4.

She had to have stitches in the hand and will not be available to play the rest of the trip.