University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team focuses on preparation rather than poll

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Hawaii will make its return to competition just outside the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Women’s Top 25 ranking.

Not that the Rainbow Wahine devoted much, if any, attention to their place in Monday’s preseason poll.

The Wahine were immersed in their morning practice to begin the second week of two-a-days when the poll was released Monday morning. Hawaii appeared in the “others receiving votes” category in the poll and placed 29th with 47 points.

“I don’t think our team is too focused on any of that right now,” said senior middle blocker Skyler Williams, who hadn’t heard the poll came out before Monday’s afternoon session. “I think we’re focused on our own game and where we want to be.”

When the Wahine last took the court, the Big West champions finished off a 26-4 2019 season with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 16. They sat out the 2020-21 season when the Big West canceled fall sports and return eight 2019 letterwinners heading into their comeback season, which opens Aug. 27 against Fairfield at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

“We didn’t play last year so they don’t really know what we have to offer yet, which can work to our advantage,” sophomore outside hitter Riley Wagoner said.

While the Wahine opened their second week of practice on Monday, the workouts were their first with the full roster following the arrival of freshman Ilayda Demirtas, a 6-foot-5 opposite/outside hitter from Turkey.

Texas, which returns Maryknoll graduate Jhenna Gabriel at setter, enters the season at No. 1 after reaching the NCAA Tournament final in April. Wisconsin is No. 2, followed by defending national champion Kentucky, Washington and Nebraska.

UH led three Big West schools that received votes. UC San Diego received eight points and Cal Poly had four.

UH is scheduled to face two preseason Top 25 teams, both at the Utah Classic in the second week of the season. The Wahine take on No. 20 San Diego on Sept. 3 and No. 19 Utah in Salt Lake City.

USC was 26th in the poll with 105 points and will visit SimpliFi Arena for the Outrigger Volleyball Series on Sept. 10 and 11.

Marquette received 27 points and will be part of the season-opening Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic along with Fairfield and Texas A&M.