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How to cap a 40th celebration? By doing something that has never been done to kick off the 41st.
Coach Dave Shoji is planning to take the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team to Europe. UH’s women’s team has been to Japan several times for offseason training, but this takes the Wahine even farther from home.
"We’ve been talking about it for years and finally it’s the right time to do it," Shoji said. "There are still a few hurdles to clear but looks like we’ll be going."
The itinerary has the team leaving May 15 and returning May 28 with stops in Italy, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. The trip includes practicing against European club teams, perhaps a scrimmage with a junior national team, and a stay in Maribor, Slovenia, where former all-conference middle Maja Gustin lives.
"We’re hoping for five to seven games and practice on the other days," Shoji said.
All 13 of the players returning this fall are making the trip. Graduating senior middle Kalei Adolpho also is going to add depth for practices.
While the European trip is a first for the program, so too is the 2015 schedule. Hawaii will have an unprecedented six Sunday matches, three occurring in the first four weeks of the season.
Shoji said he was still waiting on contracts to be signed before releasing the complete schedule. He said two early-season tournaments will have split schedules, with football sandwiched between volleyball match days, and the two matches with Cal State Bakersfield will be on a Friday and Sunday.
There is also the issue of returning senior Tai Manu-Olevao, who sat out three Sunday matches last season for religious beliefs. Shoji said he has informed Manu-Olevao of the schedule but is waiting on a response.
