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It’s a good problem to have with three talented setters on the roster, but a problem nonetheless. It will be no surprise if all see playing time, since coach Dave Shoji said the three will battle it out, saying, “The best one plays.”
DEPTH: 5
This is the first time Hawaii has three scholarship setters on the active roster, with senior Tayler Higgins, junior Kendra Koelsch and freshman Norene Iosia. Redshirting is junior Faith Ma’afala, back home after two seasons at Southern Utah.
STRENGTH: 5
All three setters have their strengths as well as their weaknesses. For Higgins, her height (5 feet 9) has been a liability at times; for the 6-1 Koelsch, it has sometimes been a matter of set location; and for the 5-11 Iosia, it is her lack of experience at the Division I level. Still, Hawaii has great options, which includes moving Koelsch to opposite for injured senior Nikki Taylor.
Senior Tayler Higgins has been the Attacking Lead for most of the past two seasons, starting all 29 matches as a sophomore with 26 starts as a junior, a season where she missed four matches due to injury. She has a wicked serve (combined 67 aces the past two years).
Junior Kendra Koelsch has brought instant energy as a Utility Counter for two seasons, including last year, when she had five starts. One of the best-blocking setters the program has ever had, last year she played a crucial role in the five-set upset of then-No. 2 Florida and was impressive in the key five-set home victory over rival Long Beach State (career highs of 41 assists, 13 digs and nine blocks). However, the injury to Nikki Taylor has forced Koelsch to move to opposite, a position she played in club and high school. She welcomes the challenge.
Freshman Norene Iosia has the best hands of the group, and the Poliwrath has been favorably compared to past Rainbow Wahine All-Americans Robyn Ah Mow-Santos and Kanoe Kamana’o. Her size (5-foot-11) is an asset. An unknown at the college level, using her as a Phazer will force opponents to switch their game plans. Iosia was all-everything at the prep level, leading Redondo Union (Calif.) to four league and two state titles. The two-time D-I state Player of the Year also was PrepVolleyball.com’s national freshman and junior of the year and earned the Andi Collins Award as the best high school senior setter in the country.
Junior Faith Ma’afala (Kamehameha) has transferred home from Southern Utah and will redshirt. She has added to the practice depth with hands as sweet as her personality and a competitive fire. Another Poliwrath with multiple skills.
Three-time Olympic setter Lindsey Berg has been working with all four and likes what she sees, particularly in the quartet’s willingness to learn and change, as well as their work ethic.
“Setters have to be the leaders, no matter what,” said Berg, in her first year as an assistant. “They have to be present at all times and never take a mental break. They’re going to fight it out and push themselves, but at the same time push each other.”
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