Wednesday was a holiday but it didn’t matter to Norene Iosia and Kirsten Sibley. The two high school seniors couldn’t wait to officially commit to the Hawaii volleyball team, signing and submitting their respective National Letter of Intent the first day possible.
"I’m so excited, ever since I was little it was the place I wanted to go," said Iosia, a 5-foot-11 setter for Redondo Union (Calif.) High. "The volleyball program is really good and I have a lot of family out there.
"I talked to (former Rainbow Wahine) Jane Croson this summer and she told me how amazing it was, how there are so many people at the games. It will be fun."
Iosia and Croson were part of American Samoa’s gold-medal winning volleyball team at last summer’s Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Iosia said she realized what a small world it was when a number of people who knew she had committed to Hawaii knew Rainbow Wahine coaches Dave Shoji and Robyn Ah Mow-Santos.
There was also the Pacific Games family connection: Her father Moe and late uncle Mac played volleyball for American Samoa several decades ago. When signing Wednesday, a picture of her uncle and "favorite person" who died in April was next to her paperwork.
Iosia was PrepVolleyball.com’s national freshman of the year in 2012 and national junior of the year in 2014. Last season, she helped lead Redondo Union to the D1-AA CIF section and state championships; the Sea Hawks (29-3) are ranked No. 1 in their division this season and play a sectional tournament second round Thursday.
"Norene is one of the premier setters coming out of this class," Shoji said. "She’s got beautiful hands, is a natural setter with good location.
"She’s just got a great command of the game."
Even though it means Hawaii will have three setters on scholarship next season — senior Tayler Higgins, junior Kendra Koelsch and Iosia — Shoji said Iosia was "someone we couldn’t pass on."
"She’s a good fit, has wanted to come to Hawaii for a long time. We’ll have to see how (next year) works out."
Shoji, who had just two scholarships for 2016, was equally high on Sibley, a 6-2 outside hitter who has been a six-rotation player for Campolindo High in Moraga, Calif. She has been with the USA Volleyball Junior A1 Training Team Program and is an accomplished beach player.
"She’s one of those hard-to-find players," Shoji said. "She plays all six rotations, has size, has a great work ethic. She’s only going to get better and better.
"I’m happy. We got two high-quality players."
Sibley’s Cougars (23-11, 12-0 league) have a bye into Saturday’s second round of the sectional tournament.
"Today has been the best day ever," Sibley said. "I’m so blessed to be part of the Wahine family."
Sibley and her parents made an official visit during the Hawaiian Airlines Classic and watched as Hawaii went 2-1, losing to UCLA in what is still the Wahine’s lone loss of the year
"Even though they lost, it was so inspiring to watch the team fight back, it was awesome," she said. "There is so much tradition there and I loved the crowd. I can’t wait to be part of the family."
UH beach volleyball coach Jeff Hall, the associate indoor head coach, is expected to announce his first recruiting class Thursday.
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COURTESY IOSIA FAMILY