It was excitement all around Monday as the Hawaii women’s volleyball team returned to the Stan Sheriff Center for the first official practice of spring.
WOMEN’S EXHIBITION VOLLEYBALL
Stan Sheriff Center
» When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
» Who: Texas at Hawaii
» General admission tickets: $15 adults, $8 seniors (65-older), $5 students (ages 4-high school)
» TV/Radio: None
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The Rainbow Wahine were back on the court together — most of the 2014 squad anyway — for the first time since losing in the NCAA second round at Washington on Dec. 6, prepping for Thursday’s exhibition match with NCAA tournament semifinalist Texas.
"It should be fun, Texas is a very good team," Hawaii freshman Kalei Greeley said. "I’ve been looking forward to playing them ever since we found out (in January). We’ve been doing individual workouts until now. It’s nice to be back as a team."
Greeley is one of 12 Rainbow Wahine expected to play against the Longhorns. While graduating seniors Ginger Long and Sarah Mendoza won’t participate, senior middle Kalei Adolpho will.
Missing will be freshman hitter Megan Huff, who leaves Wednesday with the rest of the Rainbow Wahine basketball team that plays in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament at Saint Mary’s on Friday. Also missing from Monday’s practice was sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor; the sand volleyball All-American used Monday as her NCAA-mandated day off for a week that includes sand dual matches Wednesday (USC) and Sunday (Cal and Nebraska), and the Queen of the Beach pairs tournament Friday and Saturday.
"I’m excited to get to it with Texas," said Taylor, who is paired this sand season with All-American Brittany Tiegs at No. 1. "Texas will be very, very fun."
The SandBows (4-0) are No. 1 in the AVCA rankings for the first time in the program’s four-year history. Also ranked No. 1 is the Hawaii men’s volleyball team, its first since the 2004 season.
"I was just talking to ‘Sunny’ about that, about it being so good for both programs," Taylor said of Rainbow Warriors senior middle Taylor Averill.
Three other Rainbow Wahine are doubling up with the sand team, although freshmen Clare-Marie Anderson, Gianna Guinasso and Emily Maglio haven’t played this season and may redshirt.
The SandBows officially open their on-campus courts with No. 3 USC on Wednesday with play beginning at 1:30 p.m. OC Sports will televise the Nos. 1 and 2 flight matches at 5 p.m.
