Akiu’s defense pays off with scholarship

She has watched the online video a couple of times. OK, maybe more than a couple on Twitter and Facebook links.

And, of course, there’s the replay that runs in her head a few times a day.

Reyn “Tita” Akiu still is surprised that she is now on scholarship with the Hawaii volleyball team.

It’s been nearly a week since the live reveal on Spectrum Sports’ postmatch segment, one that was supposed to be a “senior media thing” that turned into a surreal moment for the Rainbow Wahine libero. After Hawaii swept Coastal Carolina for a second consecutive night last Friday, Akiu was told to look behind her during the interview; she was greeted by hastily made congratulatory signs held by her cheering teammates.

“I was very surprised, I didn’t expect it,” Akiu said after finishing with 11 digs, her fourth double-digit dig outing in as many matches. “My folks are definitely happy. It’s a sense of relief for all of us.”

The same can be said for the Hawaii defense which graduated all-conference libero Savanah Kahakai last season. The 5-foot-3 Akiu transferred home after three seasons at Texas Tech, leaving the Lubbock school with All-Big 12 honors, 1,086 digs and a No. 2 rank in the program’s record book for single-season digs (547).

“I was ready to come home,” the Kamehameha graduate said. “I wasn’t recruited (by Hawaii) and I was kind of looking to go away anyway. The best part of coming back is having had that experience and now being able to be home and play in front of my family.”

Wahine coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos told Akiu when she walked on last spring there might not be a scholarship available this fall, depending on how late recruiting went. When there was one (worth approximately $12,000), Ah Mow-Santos wanted to make the announcement special, but it was delayed by the chaos surrounding Hurricane Lane during opening week.

“We were waiting for the right time and it was spur of the moment (to do it on TV),” Ah Mow-Santos said. “It worked out really well. She deserves it.”

Akiu leads Hawaii (2-2) with 52 digs heading into tonight’s Outrigger Classic match with Idaho. The former club setter also is third in assists (13) and is a very viable option to take the second ball.

“I was a setter from the get-go (in club), played outside and defensive specialist in high school and then transitioned to libero,” she said. “I think that background helps a lot. As a libero, you kind of need to know a little bit of everything.”

Her adaptability helped her transition with her major. Originally studying kinesiology at Texas Tech, not enough of her credits transferred to keep her on track to graduate this spring and she switched to political science.

Akiu feels that winning twice last week has turned the season around. The focus this week is to turn digs into points — successful transitioning from defense to offense to score points. Akiu is key with UH’s move to a two-person serve-receive passing formation.

“We’re just looking to improve every single day,” she said.