Taylor focuses on team, duties

There are changes this season for Nikki Taylor that go beyond the visible, beyond the new uniform number — 14 — and beyond swinging freely without pain, now that her sprained right elbow — injured 14 months ago — is 100 percent.

The differences are subtle, internal and personal for the Hawaii junior outside hitter. Unlike last season when she was on the bench on opening night — and the six subsequent matches — the 6-foot-3 Kaiser High product is scheduled to start for the 18th-ranked Rainbow Wahine against Idaho.

"It goes beyond, obviously, that I can play," the two-time All-Big West first-teamer said. "Last year, I had to sit out pretty much the whole preseason, didn’t practice once during double-days, and spent most of the time in doctors’ offices and training rooms. I didn’t even get to watch practices and my priorities were skewed because I had to focus on myself.

"This year … my priorities are about being the teammate I couldn’t be last year. It wasn’t done purposely but because of the circumstances. Not that it made me selfish but it was hard focusing on my team because I was focused on getting healthy."

Even at maybe 90 percent, Taylor still averaged 2.99 kills per set, second best on the team, while hitting out of the back row early on to avoid re-injuring the arm when needing to block. And now?

She is the player Wahine coach Dave Shoji expected her to be last year when planning the offense around her as a right-side hitter. Taylor was very impressive in Saturday’s scrimmage, pounding D-sets to the right when some 5 feet off the net.

"It is what we wanted last year," Shoji said prior to opening his 41st season Friday. "What she is able to do (on the D-set) is very rare in the women’s game and you don’t see a lot of players around the country able to do it."

The difference in her indoor game from last year to this can be compared to the difference between her game indoors and on the beach. Taylor often didn’t tape her elbow during sand competition because "sand is obviously more ‘shot-ty’ and more finesse than the power indoor," said the two-time AVCA sand All-American.

"What sand has helped me do is see the court better. Before, I could see was the block (indoors) and now I’m seeing the block and where the diggers are."

That improved vision was amusingly evident during Saturday’s scrimmage where she finished with a team-high 12 kills. There was one attack where she "saw the court" and was basically able to purposely pinpoint her shot directly at Megan Huff.

"She’s definitely developed into a more mature player," Wahine junior setter Tayler Higgins said. "We’ve really been working on that D-set since we struggled a little against Texas (in the spring exhibition) and hopefully that will be a good part of our offense."

Hawaii’s system has the right-side hitter hit twice from the right and once from the left, where the reverse happens for the left sides when hitting twice left and once right. Taylor has been pretty effective on the left as well which adds to the Wahine lineup options should someone begin struggling. Hawaii’s multi-pronged attack will be very diverse and definitely anything but one-dimensional.

Taylor said she doesn’t care which side she hits. She just wants to hit.

"I want to play where I can contribute to the team and I’m equally comfortable at either pin (outside position)," she said. "We’re ready to go. After two-plus weeks. we are itching and starving to play games. to put all that hard work during those two gruesome weeks of two-a-days behind us. We are starving and itching to put it out there.

"I like our team. We are strong, both mentally and physically. Heck yes, it should be a good season."

Taylor has changed her uniform from No. 8 to No. 14, the same her older brother Josh wore during his All-American career at Pepperdine and all-state career at Punahou. Josh Taylor said the number was given to him by Buffanblu coach Rick Tune, somewhat in anticipation that Taylor would have a similar career to the former No. 14, all-stater Spencer McLachlin.

"I wanted it as a freshman but Sarah (libero Mendoza) had it so the minute she graduated, I called Robyn (assistant Ah Mow-Santos) and asked if I could have it," Taylor said.

It’s a subtle change, one that is visible on the outside but very much symbolizes the change Taylor expects in herself this season.