Sightseeing aside, Texas will take UH match seriously

It is a working vacation — emphasis on working — for the Texas women’s volleyball team during this week’s spring break.

While coach Jerritt Elliott wants his players to enjoy the same things he did when on the Rainbow Warrior volleyball roster in 1989-90 — with some added suggestions from junior libero Kat Brooks (Punahou) — he is treating Thursday’s exhibition with Hawaii as all business.

"This gives us another week of training," Elliott said. "We want to work on speeding up our offense and try it out in front of a great crowd.

"Both teams are a little thin (without 2014 seniors), so we have no idea what (Hawaii) will put on the floor.

This is going to be more of in-game adjustments, which will be good to have them learn on the fly. "

The Longhorns have enjoyed their visit so far, snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, driving up to the North Shore and going on outrigger canoe rides off Waikiki.

"Fall is so structured that there isn’t a lot of time for this, to get to be normal," Elliott said. "It’s a chance for team bonding. Normally the players would go home, but this gives us an extra week to develop and get some extra repetitions."

While Texas had an early-morning practice Tuesday, Hawaii’s second team practice of the spring season included scrimmaging against North Texas at the Stan Sheriff Center on Tuesday afternoon. The Mean Green, coached by former Washington State head coach and Ohio State assistant Andrew Palileo (Waipahu High graduate), also played Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade on Saturday as part of their spring break training in Hawaii.

The Rainbow Wahine only began spring practice Monday and "it’s not the most ideal situation for us," coach Dave Shoji said. "But these two teams were on their spring breaks and it gave us a chance to play a couple of competitions that we need.

"I don’t think (the Texas exhibition) will be real sharp. We’ll try to get everyone in, but we’re pretty limited with just two middles (Olivia Magill and Emily Maglio) and three outsides (Kalei Greeley, Tai Manu-Olevao and Nikki Taylor)."

(Graduating senior Kalei Adolpho would be available to play in case of an injury).

The Longhorns also are missing their seniors who helped Texas (29-3) reach the NCAA tournament semifinals last December. Still, Texas has three All-Americans back in current sophomore middle Chiaka Ogbogu, junior middle Molly McCage and junior hitter/libero Amy Neal.