Not to put any added pressure on Hawaii’s two foreign freshmen, but consider this: The last two Rainbow Wahine from Sweden and British Columbia, Canada, finished their collegiate volleyball careers with multiple All-America awards and one was the national player of the year.
It’s safe to say that Hannah Hellvig (Sweden) and Tiffany Westerberg (Canada) aren’t looking that far ahead, not one practice week into their lives in Manoa. Still, the pair have high expectations for themselves, their teammates and the season.
“The environment is very competitive, I’m learning a lot and that’s what I came here to do,” said Westerberg, a 6-foot-3 middle from Maple Ridge, British Columbia. “I wasn’t going to go somewhere that I knew was going to be easy.
“All the freshmen are great players and ready to go. I came here to grow and learn. I feel I am in the right place.”
The skill level of Hawaii’s five freshmen — as well as the four transfers — has the Wahine ahead of where they’ve been after one week of practice in the first two seasons under coach Robyn Ah Mow. Hawaii moved quickly enough through drills — and successfully — that it allowed for several 6-on-6 mini matches, including one on Day 1 on Aug. 10.
“I’d say we are in a better situation than the last two seasons,” Ah Mow said after Friday’s 10th and final practice of the first eight days. “Everybody came in this year in a little better shape. When that happens, you can run drills, you can last through drills and be able to move. Then you can move on to playing 6-on-6.
“No way we were doing that the first week (the last two years). There’s progress.”
It has gone beyond the 6-on-6. Hawaii already is running plays that require timing and precise connection such as step-outs and combinations.
On Friday, Westerberg was impressive when converting on an “X,” a play where a front-row hitter jumps as if to attack — faking out the block — and the ball is set to the second attacker hitting from behind the 3-meter line. Westerberg swung with authority, hitting what is called “a heavy ball.”
“I love running combos,” Westerberg said. “Am I surprised by the level of our freshmen? When I was getting recruited, Coach Rob (Ah Mow) and Coach Ang (assistant coach Angelica Ljungqvist) said they were going to get the best players. I expected nothing less, nothing less than what Hannah and the others are.”
Hellvig was the last to arrive, ending her 24-hour journey the night of Aug. 7; practice started the morning of the 10th. The 6-2 hitter from Stockholm says she’s over the jetlag but is still adjusting to Hawaii volleyball.
“It’s good, but it’s very different from Sweden,” Hellvig said. “It’s a much higher tempo. I have learned a lot the first week.
“I am very happy with level. It’s definitely harder than Sweden, but I love it. It’s why I wanted to come, experience something new and find a place where I could learn.”
Hellvig said that having Ljungqvist in the gym is making the transition easier.
“She knows my parents,” Hellvig said. “I feel very safe here. She’s one of the reasons I’m here.”
The two freshmen said they have been surprised by the media attention given the program.
“I was in Target the other day and someone asked to take a picture with me,” Westerberg said. “They already knew who I was.”
As for the footsteps the two are following:
Ljungqvist, from Sweden, was the program’s first four-time All-American and the 1996 American Volleyball Coaches Association’s national player of the year as a senior.
Emily Maglio, from British Columbia, was the second Rainbow Wahine to earn All-America recognition in both indoor and beach volleyball (Nikki Taylor was the first). As a middle indoors, Maglio was second team as a senior and honorable mention as a junior. On the beach, she was first team as a freshman and junior, and honorable mention as a senior.
