Adjustments are key for returnees

The transition game is key in volleyball when moving from defense to offense during a rally.

It is no different when players are transitioning from one sport to another, one from basketball to volleyball and one from sand volleyball to the indoor game.

It is the case with the Hawaii women’s indoor volleyball team that is back to having all 12 returning players in the practice gym.

Freshman outside hitter Megan Huff joined the Rainbow Wahine earlier this week after a successful stint with the basketball team and sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor returned from a road trip with the No. 2 SandBows, where she teamed with Brittany Tiegs to win the pairs portion of the Santa Cruz (Calif.) Collegiate Challenge.

Making the bigger adjustment is Huff, who admittedly hasn’t touched a volleyball since Christmas.

"I feel a little rusty," said the Big West Sixth Woman awardee in basketball. "I’ve missed volleyball.

"I still need to work on stuff. I feel good, am in better shape but it is different. There is more jumping now (with volleyball)."

Taylor has been jumping from one playing surface to another for several weeks, often doubling up with morning indoor workouts and afternoon sand. It was something she did last spring en route to All-American sand honors in her first serious foray into the sport.

"Nikki probably is a little fatigued but she understands that she has to go through this," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "Sand is so demanding. You’ve got to do every skill almost every rally.

"She’s doing everything (with sand) that will help her indoors."

The Rainbow Wahine return a dozen players from the team that went 22-7. The focus in spring is on conditioning and skills.

"We’ve been working really hard," junior middle Oliva Magill said. "It’s nice to be in the gym instead of just lifting weights.

"It’s nice to have (Huff) back. We’ve missed her. We miss our seniors but most of us are back. I think we’ve all grown during spring."

The team bonding will continue next month when the Rainbow Wahine embark on their first training trip to Europe with stops in Italy, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Hawaii is tentatively scheduled to play two matches in each country against club teams between May 18 and 27.

"Europe is going to be a really good experience for us," Magill said.

Until then, it’s skills, drills and weights in Manoa.

"We still need to be fundamentally stronger, that’s the goal right now," said Shoji, who has agreed in principle to a three-year contract extension through 2017. "Our team has made a lot of progress in the weight room so physically we’re pretty good. With everyone getting better skill-wise we’ll be better as a team."