Wahine eager to see Europe

It has become her signature celebration move. After a big kill, block or point, Rainbow Wahine outside hitter Nikki Taylor does a windmill fist pump accompanied by a “Let’s go!”

In a few days, Taylor expects to be saying it in Italian when Hawaii plays two matches in Milan against Italian Federation teams. 

Andiamo.

Let’s go.

“I guess that is my favorite saying,” Taylor said before Thursday’s practice, Hawaii’s last before leaving on its first European training tour. “it gets me pumped up and gets everyone pumped up. 

“I’m really excited about this trip. It’s my first time going to Europe and I’m excited about experiencing the cultural diversity as well as getting the international playing experience. I’m expecting a lot of growth for us and for me personally, having to play against other players I haven’t seen before.”

Hawaii was scheduled to leave Friday night for Seattle, then fly Saturday morning to New York and then to Italy. The team — 12 players, 3 coaches, a trainer, equipment manager and three boosters — is expected to land in Milan Sunday morning.

Although Hawaii is the most traveled team in the NCAA, rising sophomore defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson is the only Rainbow Wahine player who has been to Europe. She has visited Italy and Switzerland, two countries where her father, Jay, played volleyball internationally.

A number of the players didn’t have passports when first told several months ago they were making the trip. 

“No, I did not have one, didn’t even know how to get one,” graduating senior middle Kalei Adolpho said. “I asked Robyn (assistant coach Ah Mow-Santos) how to do it. It was a good learning experience and it’s something good to have.”

Taylor had traveled to Canada and Brazil to watch her older brother Josh play for the U.S. Junior and Youth national teams. However, it had expired and she needed to renew it.

“I love to travel internationally, experiencing the culture, seeing all the history and, of course, eating the different foods,” Taylor said. “On-court maturity is something I can always work on. I’m excited to see us play internationally and be seen internationally. I’m very blessed to have this experience.”

The four countries — Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Czech Republic — won’t be the only things foreign to the Rainbow Wahine. The matches against Italian, Slovenian and Czech federation teams will use the international FIVB rules and volleyballs (There is a match against the Tunisian senior national team tentatively scheduled in Prague).

In practice on Thursday, the team used new FIVB-approved blue-and-yellow Mikasa volleyballs stamped with “Rainbows.”

“It’s the international ball used for world competition,” Hawaii associate coach Jeff Hall said. “We (Hawaii) are one of the few places in the United States that doesn’t use it.

“What we know about it is it floats a lot more than a regular ball. The international movement is more jump-float serves than jump-spin because this ball is really hard to pass. 

“But play with it for a few days and you get used to it. After a couple of days, the girls will be fine.”

The rules that will be used are more like those in the men’s collegiate game. Whereas NCAA women’s regulations allow for unlimited substitutions, FIVB’s call for six total substitutions and one-time entry into the match. It takes away the defensive specialist with outside hitters playing all the way around.

“The substitution rules are the biggest change,” said Hall, Hawaii’s assistant men’s coach the previous four seasons. “It’s six substitutions total and if you come off the bench and come out, you’re done.

“The men’s (collegiate) game has mimicked FIVB international rules for a long time. It’s something that I’m comfortable with coming from the men’s side. And Coach (Dave) Shoji has been around the international game a long time so we’ll be fine.”

The trip, the Rainbow Wahine’s first since going to Japan over spring break in 2001, is being paid for through donations and fund-raising.