Walk in the graduation processional to seats in the Stan Sheriff Center or walk down a gangway to seats on a flight to Europe. Those were the choices for Kalei Adolpho and Ginger Long, who were scheduled to receive their diplomas at Saturday’s commencement exercise.
The two graduating Hawaii volleyball players opted for one last road trip as Rainbow Wahine.
For them, there was no choice — or scelta, a word they would use when traveling in Italy beginning Sunday.
"It was an easy decision," said Adolpho, who will play basketball this coming season while working on an advanced degree. "If you ask me whether I want to walk at graduation or walk on a plane to Europe, I would choose Europe every time.
"I’ve been on a lot of road trips. This by far is the farthest, the longest and the most anticipation build-up. I’m really excited."
As with all but one of the 12 Rainbow Wahine, this will be Adolpho’s first trip to Europe. (The exception is defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson). Adolpho said she is looking forward to the competition as well as cultural exchanges scheduled to include music, songs and dance.
"I think cultural exchange is really important," the Molokai-raised Adolpho said. "We’ll see how far we get with the singing and how we handle the dancing.
"The volleyball part … we know how important it is here in Hawaii, we know what it looks like, how big it is. I’m looking forward to going outside of America to see what the competition is like, how they feel about volleyball in other countries, what the interest is. I think it will be awesome."
Hawaii is scheduled to play six matches between Monday and May 27, two against Italian Federation teams in Milan at the Italian National Training Center; three against Slovenian Federation teams in Maribor, Slovenia; and one in Prague against a Czech Republic team. A match with the Tunisian National Team is tentatively scheduled in Prague as well.
Long said she was torn between graduation and Europe and "honestly, I was a little sad not knowing which way to go," she said. "But when you’re given an opportunity like this, it’s once in a lifetime, and there’s no way to say no.
"It’s always been a dream of mine to travel; Italy being one of the top things on my bucket list. I’m planning on my master’s so I will walk then. It’s pretty much a win-win situation for me."
Long and Adolpho came in together as freshmen in 2011 from neighbor islands with Long — a Kamehameha-Maui graduate — redshirting and Adolpho — out of Molokai High — playing volleyball and basketball. While Adolpho will continue to play basketball during her fifth year of eligibility this coming season, Long decided to forego a fourth year in volleyball.
The two shared the senior night experience last November. This trip is a way of extending that team bond.
"I think playing volleyball at this high level will be awesome in preparing next year’s team for what they have to do," Long said. "That is another part of why I’m really stoked about getting to go.
"And being able to share our Hawaiian culture is a huge thing. Once people see it, they want to come to Hawaii. Being from the Hawaiian culture, I think we’re really receptive to other cultures. And we’re excited to see what the other cultures have to offer."
Adolpho agreed she wasn’t ready to leave volleyball behind.
"To be able to be with a bunch of girls I enjoy being around … I wasn’t ready to give it up," she said. "Luckily, I get this chance to prolong it a little longer."
This also will be the first trip to Europe for Jeff Hall, who was hired in January for the dual role of indoor associate head coach and sand volleyball head coach.
"I wanted to go to Europe to play professionally but chose to have a (pro) sand career," Hall said. "I’m so glad I’m going with Dave (UH head coach Shoji) and Robyn (assistant Ah Mow-Santos), who have been to Europe a lot. I’ve waited 20 years for this and I’m excited."
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