The depth that Hawaii was forced to develop at outside hitter earlier this season may come into play — and get to play — during the final road trip of the regular season.
At Tuesday’s practice, the Rainbow Wahine were missing two junior hitters, Tai Manu-Olevao and Keani Passi. An ailing Manu-Olevao came to practice but was soon sent off to treat what were called "flu-like symptoms." Passi was a no-show in Gym I, missing the workout for "unspecified personal reasons," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said.
Manu-Olevao, primarily used as a left-side hitter, is expected to be on the 14-player travel roster when the team leaves on the red-eye Wednesday night to Los Angeles. Right-side hitter Passi, however, will not, with the Wahine likely taking an extra defensive specialist in either sophomore Katiana Ponce, freshman Clare Anderson or freshman Giana Guinasso.
"We’re ready to go without both of them," Shoji said of Manu-Olevao and Passi. "That’s what we worked on today."
One change has sophomore right-side hitter Nikki Taylor moving to the left and freshman Megan Huff on the right. It was Taylor’s offseason elbow injury — which forced her to miss the first eight matches of the season — that had Huff moving from middle blocker to train on the outside.
Hawaii has also been without Manu-Olevao for three Sunday matches due to her religious beliefs.
Perhaps unintended but one bonus in the midst of the revolving lineup has been the emergence of freshman Kalei Greeley, who has become entrenched as a starter and has played in all but one of the 83 sets this season. Also in the mix is junior hitter Ginger Long.
Hawaii’s mantra this week and next is along the lines of the late N.C. State coach Jim Valvano: "Survive and advance." With a Rating Percentage Index holding at 30 and 44 votes keeping them just outside of the Top 25 in the coaches poll, the Wahine are focused on winning out and advancing to the 64-team NCAA tournament.
First up is UC Santa Barbara on Friday, which took Hawaii to five in both matches last season, with the visiting team leaving with a win both times. The Gauchos (12-13, 7-7) are in seventh place in the Big West and were swept in last month’s visit to the Stan Sheriff Center, but they could easily play the spoiler to the Wahine’s postseason plans.
"I think everyone is pretty excited about Friday. Santa Barbara is a fun place to play," Taylor said. "It was a big win for us up there last year and I play that match back in my head all the time.
"For us, we want to finish our last conference road trip on a good note since our last ones have been kind of rocky."
The past two trips to California included two losses at Cal State Northridge and current No. 20 Long Beach State, and a gutsy five-set win at UC Irvine after being down 2-0 with the Anteaters serving for match point in the third set.
Taylor and her sprained right elbow likely were the biggest beneficiaries of Hawaii’s bye week. While the Wahine did practice last week, Taylor was held out of blocking and hitting drills, and worked primarily on back-row defense.
"I’m pretty good right now," she said. "I did hit a lot more left today than normal but my role is being whatever the team needs me to be. If it’s as an outside hitter on the left, that’s what I’ll be. If it’s playing right-back, that’s what I’ll be."
One thing Taylor is? A fan of the Wahine freshmen.
"I see them definitely maturing into ‘Wahines,’ " Taylor said. "When you’re a freshman — at least it was for me — I really wanted to emphasize morphing into a Wahine, the culture of the program, and what it means to be playing here.
"I’m happy they’re getting their groove in the program. I’m happy that they’re blossoming."
Hawaii will take at least five freshmen on the trip in Greeley, Huff, setter Kendra Koelsch, middle Emily Maglio and defensive specialist Savanah Kahakai. Also making her first trip to UCSB and Cal Poly is junior middle Olivia Magill, a transfer from Arizona, who leads the Big West in hitting percentage (.422, 10th nationally) and blocks per set (1.44, 17th nationally).
Big West volleyball
Friday, 5 p.m.
Hawaii (17-6, 9-3) at UC Santa Barbara (12-13, 7-7)
Saturday, 5 p.m.
Hawaii at Cal Poly (9-15, 4-10)
Streaming video: bigwest.tv
Radio: Friday, 1420-AM; Saturday, 1500-AM
