Italian National Team fires 18 aces at the Wahine

MILAN » The day began and ended with a lesson on defense and of its importance.

Seeing how the Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle) defended the city of Milan beginning in the 14th century while on a morning sightseeing tour was like seeing how the Italian National Team defended the Pallazzetto, its home court at the Centro Pavesi training center.

No touring American college team has won an "amichevole" — a friendly, in international competition terms — against the Italians.

Nothing changed Tuesday.

While official statistics were not kept, unofficially Italy had 18 aces in the 25-18, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20 win. (The coaches agreed to play at least four sets).

Eight of those aces were by rising star Paola Egonu, a dynamic outside hitter born in Italy of Nigerian ancestry who is just 16 years old. Her jump serve — reminiscent of former Wahine Jane Croson’s sky ball — often froze Hawaii’s serve-receive with its speed and knuckleball-like movement.

"The serves were coming in like bullets," incoming senior hitter Tai Manu-Olevao said. "We started comparing it to (former Wahine All-American Emily) Hartong’s. Hartong has a mean serve, but this was something else.

"What did I learn? I definitely need to hit the weight room harder."

That likely will be what Manu-Olivao writes down after the players were asked by coach Dave Shoji to make journal entries of what each one can do to improve on and off the court. The Wahine can put words into action when they play the Slovenia National Team on Wednesday in northern Italy (6 a.m. Hawaii time).

The Wahine again will be at a disadvantage. As with the Italians (with the exception of Egonu), the Slovenian roster is composed of professional players who are older and with international playing experience.

The match also will use the FIVB Mikasa volleyball and the FIVB rules that limit substitutions. It all but eliminates the defensive specialist and has middle blockers who normally sub out now serving and passing in the back row.

"I thought we competed hard, we just couldn’t handle their jump serve," Shoji said. "So that put us in a hole every game.

"When we did get a pass, we were able to score. I thought our players stepped up and didn’t back down. We didn’t have a lot of out balls (hit long or wide). This is what we came for."

Veteran Italian coach Marco Bonitta was equally pleased with his players, many of whom were not on the roster when Italy finished fourth as the host of last fall’s FIVB World Championship.

"I’m happy because we scored a lot of points off our serve, something we practice so much," he said. "For me, that is a good situation.

"Hawaii is younger than us, but they have a good future in front of them. Congratulations to them, they played a good game."

It was a game that, incoming sophomore libero Savannah Kahakai said, had distinct differences.

"It definitely was a different level of energy out there," she said. "They are way faster and stronger.

"Their serves were really tough, the ball floats a lot, but we did dig them, and knowing that we can is good."

Set 4 was the closest, with both teams using a number of reserves. Kendra Koelsch replaced Tayler Higgins at setter, Megan Huff saw her first action on the outside and graduating seniors Ginger Long (outside) and Kalei Adolpho (middle) helped Hawaii take a 17-16 lead, its first that late in a set.

At 18-18, Italy used a 5-0 run to pull away for good and start preparing for its match Wednesday against Kansas.

Star-Advertiser reporter Cindy Luis is accompanying the Wahine volleyball team on its trip to Europe, where the team will train and play exhibition matches. Luis will provide daily accounts in print and online of the trip. Follow her @CindyLuis_SA.