That sub-seven-minute mile seems so long ago.
It was the make-it-or-don’t-make-it on the practice court run around the Ching Athletic Complex track on Aug. 8. The 420-second barrier was what stood between a Rainbow Wahine being allowed to participate in the first of double-days and continuing to run until it happened.
For three incoming seniors, it was their first official taste of the demands of being part of the Hawaii volleyball program. As well as their last mile test … and they all passed.
The trio of Tita Akiu, Angel Gaskin and Sarah Liva are Wahine rarities as one-and-done transfers. But, considering that all were part of the starting lineup for most of the 24 matches, they are more like one-and-done-so-much for Hawaii (16-8, 12-2 Big West), which concludes conference play this week at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Libero Akiu (Texas Tech) and middle Liva (Portland State) transferred to play at home. Gaskin (Maryland) found one nearly 5,000 miles away.
“That mile … it felt like the beginning of my collegiate career,” said Akiu, a Kamehameha graduate who played her first three seasons for the Red Raiders. “I have no regrets. It was one of the best decisions I made.
“It is amazing to be a Wahine, being able to accomplish something you’ve been dreaming of since you were little. Even though I wasn’t here for my first year … to be here for my last means a lot. It’s just being able to inspire others and show that anything is possible.”
There is little argument that Akiu, the smallest of the Wahine at 5 feet 3, has made the biggest impact, playing all 90 sets. Awarded a scholarship midway through the season, she has 398 digs (4.42 dps) and has been tasked with passing over 60 percent of the court in a two-person serve-receive.
“She’s been a vacuum on defense,” Hawaii coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos said. “I don’t know if Hawaii has ever gone with two-man passing before, but that’s what she has done, passing over half the court.
“All of them have contributed. It’s hard coming in, playing for just that one year — you have to get used to the rest of the team, the vibe, the chemistry. They all practiced hard and ended up starting.”
The 6-1 Liva has had the most circuitous journey, from playing two seasons at Portland State to a year of basketball at Hawaii Pacific to being a UH student for more than a semester before walking on in spring. Liva has 22 starts with 143 kills and 37 blocks.
“For us one-and-dones I think the three of us playing almost every single match is a huge testament not to our skills but to what Coach Rob (Ah Mow-Santos) has given us,” Liva said. “It’s been really hard at times, but it’s absolutely been 100 percent worth it. I wouldn’t have traded this year for anything in the world because it got me to where I am now.
“I think about that mile and it seems a really long time ago. Every time I walk past that track, it all comes back. I made it on the last chance before we were to start that first practice.”
Besides being a one-and-done senior, Gaskin had two other distinctions: a left-handed opposite and hailing from Florida.
“It was a little different for Angel, since the other two were local girls,” Ah Mow-Santos said. “But right off the bat, she gave us a presence on the right.”
Gaskin has had some of her biggest nights in some of Hawaii’s biggest contests: a career-high 12 kills in the five-set loss to No. 12 Oregon and the victories over Long Beach State and No. 11 Cal Poly. Her blocking has continually improved, with 19 of her 41 blocks coming in the past eight matches.
“It has been 100 percent what I expected,” said Gaskin, who has played in every match. “The best part has been the girls, the coaches, the fans, the crowd support. From the beginning everything was amazing.
“Even though I was far, far away, I felt at home immediately. It has been everything I wanted and more.”
Note
Friday’s match against UC Davis is senior night for four other Wahine: hitters McKenna Granato and Casey Castillo, setter Faith Ma’afala and middle Natasha Burns. Burns is a redshirt junior and has decided to graduate and not use her final year of eligibility.
BIG WEST VOLLEYBALL
At Stan Sheriff Center
Thursday, 7 p.m.
>> UC Irvine (16-11, 10-5) at Hawaii (16-8, 12-2)
>> Hawaii leads series 39-0
Friday, 7 p.m.
>> UC Davis (16-11, 8-7) at Hawaii
>> Hawaii leads series 12-1
TV: Spectrum OC 16 (Ch. 16/1016)
Radio: 1420-AM
