Wahine grab first win in Europe

MARIBOR, Slovenia » There has been little down time, little time to sprostite (relax) during the whirlwind of a tour for the Hawaii volleyball team.

Finally, on Friday, the Rainbow Wahine were able to chill out — literally — in the 50-degree rainy weather on a tour of Maribor city center in the morning and play relaxed in the afternoon match against a young Novo KBM Branik club team from Maribor at the Dras Center.

The day ended with an elegant meal of regional cuisine at a picturesque winery and promises of sleeping in Saturday morning and a trip to the neighboring hotel for indoor swimming and sauna.

"We had such a long bus ride (Thursday) that it’s been nice to sightsee today and be a tourist," Wahine outside hitter Nikki Taylor said of the four-hour trek from Venice to Maribor. "It is so green here and I’m enjoying all the scenery. It’s reminds me of one of my favorite movies, ‘Lord of the Rings.’ It looks a lot like The Shire."

The Rainbow Wahine were more than ready for a break after a week’s worth of traveling. Friday marked the halfway point of the four-country, 12-day tour.

"It’s been a great experience, but it does feel like we’ve been on the road for a while," incoming sophomore hitter Kalei Greeley said. "It’s definitely worth it. We’ve seen so many things.

"Slovenia is green, beautiful and a lot colder than it’s been."

Hawaii also had been frozen out of the win column in two matches, losing 4-0 to both the Italian and Slovenian national teams. The Rainbow Wahine finally warmed up its serve-receive and passing games en route to a 25-17, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11 victory. The coaches agreed to play five sets, Hawaii’s Dave Shoji to give all 11 healthy players court time and Novo KBM’s Bruno Najdic a chance to give his younger players experience.

The Slovenian team was definitely not the same one that won the Women’s Middle European League title in February for the fourth time in six years. They were without five of their veterans, who are playing for the senior national team against host France on Saturday, and had a 15-year-old setter running the show against the Rainbow Wahine.

Still, Hawaii could have been flat mentally and physically Friday afternoon but wasn’t. The Rainbow Wahine established their game early against the smaller Slovenes, with improved passing allowing Tayler Higgins to set the middle, an offensive weapon that had been missing earlier in the week.

Incoming senior hitter Tai Manu-Olevao continued to impress opposing coaches with her physicality and explosiveness. Najdic also singled out Higgins for her setting and UH’s two returning middles — incoming senior Olivia Magill and incoming sophomore Emily Maglio — for their blocking and elevation.

"Hawaii has very big, very strong players," Najdic said. "I think they will be a very good team (this season). And a number of them should be able to go on and play pro."

The Rainbow Wahine close out the Maribor stop Saturday with an afternoon match with a Slovenian under-22 team. Hawaii then moves on to Vienna on Sunday and will have matches in Prague from Monday through Wednesday.

Note

Having dinner with the team Friday were former Warriors setter Nejc Zemljak (2008-11) and former Rainbow Warriors basketball player Ales Zivanovic (1995-97). Both are from Maribor and have remained active in their respective sports — Zemljak helping with the beach division of Bring It Promotions and Zivanovic as a coach and running camps at the youth level.