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In a word, unconventional.
Whether it was going without a libero for most of the match or using eight players who were in a Hawaii volleyball uniform for the first time — including three true freshmen in the front row together — the Rainbow Wahine played it anything but safe in their season opener against No. 21 San Diego on Friday night.
In a word, success.
Led by junior transfer Jolie Rasmussen’s 19 kills and an impressive debut by freshman hitter Hanna Hellvig, Hawaii won its season opener for the first time since 2015. As a crowd of 4,947 watched for 2 hours and 17 minutes, the Wahine rallied past San Diego, 25-19, 20-25, 16-25, 25-19, 15-10, in the second match of the Hawaiian Airlines Classic.
>> Click here to see photos of the match between Hawaii and San Diego.
Hawaii (1-0) takes on St. John’s (0-1) in tonight’s second match. The Toreros (0-1) face No. 13 Washington (1-0) in today’s 4:45 p.m. opener.
In Friday’s first match, the Huskies swept the Red Storm 25-22, 25-14, 25-17.
Hawaii’s victory also was the first one over a Top 25 nonconference opponent since 2015, an NCAA tournament third-round win over Penn State. The Wahine did it with a stifling block that shut down the Toreros’ attack, finishing with a 15-5 edge, four coming in the deciding fifth set.
“I’m just so proud of them,” said third-year Hawaii coach Robyn Ah Mow after winning a season opener for the first time. “Everyone’s been saying we have a great team. Yes, we have talent, but you need to know if they’re going to jell, how they’re going to play together.
“We had a bunch of young girls on the court and I’m proud of the way they made adjustments, being at the young age that they are.”
The freshmen played beyond their years, led by the Swedish national Hellvig (13 kills, four blocks). Also coming up big was junior hitter Brooke Van Sickle, who finished with 12 kills with one error, 14 digs and — at 5 feet 9 — a team-high six blocks.
“It was super fun,” Hellvig said. “Everything was so new, but I felt at home. It was crazy and I love it.”
Senior setter Norene Iosia, playing in a true 6-2 offense with fellow senior setter Bailey Choy, finished with a double-double (30 assists, 14 digs).
Senior hitter Thana Fayad and senior middle Megan Jacobsen each had 15 kills for USD. The Toreros out-dug the Wahine 67-56, with senior setter Anna Newsome and sophomore libero Annie Benbow each coming up with 18.
Newsome was two kills shy of a triple double, finishing with 43 assists.
“I thought our freshmen did amazing,” said Iosia, often surrounded by newcomers. “It doesn’t matter what system we use as long as it gets us wins.
“I think it showed our resilience when going five.”
Of Hawaii’s 17 combined losses the past two seasons, 10 have come in five sets.
What kind of offense will the Wahine use tonight?
“The good thing is we have the personnel to do anything,” Ah Mow said. “We practiced a lot without a libero and we think it will work. But we know we can always change it.”
Rasmussen, Van Sickle and junior defensive specialist Kyra Hanawahine all transferred from Oregon. Hanawahine didn’t play until Set 5, but her key 3-0 serving run, which included an ace, helped the Wahine gain separation at 10-5.
Note
Senior hitter McKenna Ross and freshman middle/hitter Braelyn Akana were not medically cleared to participate Friday. Their status is day-to-day.
No. 13 Washington 3, St. John’s 0
Senior hitter Kara Bejema put down 11 kills and the Huskies needed just 75 minutes to sweep the Red Storm.
Junior middle Lauren Sanders added nine kills with just one error in 11 swings and senior middle Avie Niece was in on seven blocks — two solo — as UW outblocked St. John’s 11-5.
Sophomore hitter Efrosini Alexakou and junior hitter Klara Mikelova each had eight kills for the Red Storm. Senior libero Amanda Sanabio finished with a match-high 13 digs.
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