Sights & Sounds: Rainbow Wahine Sand Volleyball

Rainbow Wahine Spring Challenge

The third ranked Rainbow Wahine sand volleyball team will host No.2 USC, No.7 Nebraska and unranked Arizona in the Rainbow Wahine Spring Challenge.

Day 1: (March 19)

Day 2: (March 20)

Day 3: (March 21)
Pool A
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) 21-11, 21-8
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Mary Pollmiller (UA)/Kelsey Fien (NEB) 21-10, 21-16
Mary Pollmiller (UA)/Kelsey Fien (NEB) def. Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) 21-11, 21-18

Pool B
Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH) def. Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC) 21-15, 21-10
Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH) def. Allie Cook/Penina Snuka (UA) 21-12, 21-13
Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC) def. Allie Cook/Penina Snuka (UA) 21-13, 21-14

Pool C
Mel Kiel/Justine Wong-Orantes(NEB) def. Sarah Seiber/Rachel Rhoades (UA) 21-16, 21-13
Tayler Higgins/London Chow (UH) def. Mel Kiel/Justine Wong-Orantes(NEB) 21-14, 21-19
Tayler Higgins/London Chow (UH) def. Sarah Seiber/Rachel Rhoades (UA) 21-17, 21-13

Pool D
Jane Croson/Madi Kingdon (UA) def. Brenna Lyles/Alicia Ostrander (NEB) 21-18 18-21, 15-11
Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Jane Croson/Madi Kingdon (UA) 21-10, 21-14
Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Brenna Lyles/Alicia Ostrander (NEB) 21-19, 21-12

Pool E
Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Ronni Lewis/Taylor Arizobal (UA) 21-16, 21-5
Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Amanda Moriaty/Samantha Rummans (HPU) 21-13, 21-12
Amanda Moriaty/Samantha Rummans (HPU) def. Ronni Lewis/Taylor Arizobal (UA) 21-18, 11-21, 15-7

Pool F
Katie Spieler/Nikki Taylor (UH) def. Cecilia Hall/Alexa Ethridge (NEB) 21-7, 21-10
Katie Spieler/Nikki Taylor (UH) def. Jamie Asuncsion/Haley Doerfler (HPU) 21-7, 21-10
Cecilia Hall/Alexa Ethridge (NEB) def. Jamie Asuncsion/Haley Doerfler (HPU) 21-13, 21-10

Pool G
Sam Hirschmann/Natasja Siljkovic (USC) def. Amber Rolfzen/Kadie Roflzen (NEB) 21-14, 21-10
Amber Rolfzen/Kadie Roflzen (NEB) def. Christina Furrer/Kasey Thompson (HPU) 21-10, 21-9
Sam Hirschmann/Natasja Siljkovic (USC) def. Christina Furrer/Kasey Thompson (HPU) 21-4, 21-6

Pool H
McKenna Witt/Madision Witt (UA) def. Ali Longo/Ginger Long (UH) 21-13,19-21,15-10
McKenna Witt/Madision Witt (UA) def. Pomai Recca/Hannah Schuett (HPU) 21-3, 21-11
Ali Longo/Ginger Long (UH) def. Pomai Recca/Hannah Schuett (HPU) 21-9, 21-17

bold italics indicates advanced to Saturday's Gold Bracket

Day 4 (March 22)
Gold Bracket
Round of 16
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Amanda Moriaty/Samantha Rummans (HPU), 21-9, 21-4
Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Ali Longo/Ginger Long (UH) vs. 22-20, 21-18
Mel Kiel/Justine Wong-Orantes (NEB) def. Sam Hirschmann/Natasja Siljkovic (USC), 18-21, 21-16, 18-16
Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC) def. Katie Spieler/Nikki Taylor (UH), 12-21, 21-10, 18-16
Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Mary Pollmiller/Kelsey Fien (NEB), 21-15, 21-13
Tayler Higgins/London Chow (UH) def. Cecilia Hall/Alexa Ethridge (NEB), 21-14, 21-9
McKenna Witt/Madision Witt (UA) def. Amber Rolfzen/Kadie Roflzen (NEB), 21-18, 21-17
Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH) def. Jane Croson/Madi Kingdon (UA) 21-12, 21-12

Quarterfinals
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC), 21-10, 21-14
Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC) def. Mel Kiel/Justine Wong-Orantes (NEB), 21-18, 21-19
Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH) def. McKenna Witt/Madision Witt (UA), 21-16, 21-13
Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Tayler Higgins/London Chow (UH), 21-16, 21-16

Semifinals
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Eve Ettinger/Bria Russ (USC), 19-21, 21-12, 15-11
Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH) def. Kelly Claes/Alexa Strange (USC), 21-16, 21-17

Championship
Kirby Burnham/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Brittany Tiegs/Karissa Cook (UH), 21-18, 21-16

Consolation Matches
Ally Wheeler/Paige Hines (USC) def. Mary Pollmiller/Kelsey Fien (NEB), 21-14, 18-21, 15-13
Jane Croson/Madi Kingdon (UA) def. Cecilia Hall/Alexa Ethridge (NEB), 21-14, 21-17
Katie Spieler/Nikki Taylor (UH) def. Sam Hirschmann/Natasja Siljkovic (USC), 21-19, 21-10
Ali Longo/Ginger Long (UH) def. Amber Rolfzen/Kadie Roflzen (NEB), 21-16, 21-16

Silver Bracket
Round of 16
Ronni Lewis/Taylor Arizobal (UA) def. Sophia Blaszyk/Marie Fujii (HPU), 21-12, 21-6
Olivia Urban/Sarah Mendoza (UH) def. Paige Hines/Alexx Murphy (USC), 20-22, 22-20, 15-5
Alex Stonish/Mary Buckingham (USC) def. Allie Cook/Penina Snuka (UA) 21-10, 22-20
Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) def. Christina Furrer/Kasey Thompson (HPU) 21-6, 21-10
Sarah Seiber/Rachel Rhoades (UA) def. Pomai Recca/Hannah Schuett (HPU), 21-12, 21-15
Mikayla Tucker/Sydney Shinn (UH) def. Jamie Asuncion/Haley Doerfler (HPU), 21-10, 21-19
Brooke Fournier/Kati Duddridge (USC) def. Emily Kiser/Laura Larson (UA), 21-16, 21-14
Brenna Lyles/Alicia Ostrander (NEB) def. Kara Wong/Jasmine Fujimoto (HPU), 21-7, 21-12

Quarterfinals
Olivia Urban/Sarah Mendoza (UH) def. Ronni Lewis/Taylor Arizobal (UA), 18-21, 21-18, 15-10
Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) def. Alex Stonish/Mary Buckingham (USC), 21-12, 21-14
Brooke Fournier/Kati Duddridge (USC) def. Kira Larson/Alicia Ostrander (NEB), 21-18, 25-23
Mikayla Tucker/Sydney Shinn (UH) def. Sarah Seiber/Rachel Rhoades (UA), 21-9, 21-19

Semifinals
Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) def. Olivia Urban/Sarah Mendoza (UH), 21-10, 21-16
Mikayla Tucker/Sydney Shinn (UH) def. Brooke Fournier/Kati Duddridge (USC), 15-21, 21-16, 15,11

Championship
Karlee Riggs/Hannah Rooks (UH) def. Mikayla Tucker/Sydney Shinn (UH), 21-11, 22-20

Awards:
Best Offense: Karissa Cook, Hawai'i
Best Defense: Sarah Hughes, USC
Best Blocker: Kirby Burnham, USC
Aloha Spirit: Madi Kingdon, Arizona

Player Connections

• Justine Wong-Orantes, Haili Amaro, and Jane Croson played on the same high school team (Los Alamitos HS)
• Ali Longo and Mary Pollmiller played on the same high school team (Chatfield HS)
• Justine Wong-Orantes and Kelsey Fien both had Hawaii as one of their top choices for college
• Jane Croson transferred from Hawaii to Arizona
• Sara Hughes and Justine Wong-Orantes were beach partners in high school
• Lauren Sieckmann and Alexa Strange started their careers at Nebraska then ended up at USC
• Penina Snuka was born in Hawaii and played her senior year of high school here (Kahuku HS)
• Nikki Taylor had Nebraska as one of her top choices for college

#1 Brittany Tiegs Junior 5'9" Stuart, FL / Florida State University

Summer Recap

A lot has happened in the last two weeks for the U of Hawaii volleyball. So here is a recap of it all.

Girl's Junior National Championship (Dallas, Texas)

2013 Recruits
Tayler Higgins
5'9" Setter
Kui'kahi
Division: 18 Open
Started: 24th
Finished: 13th

Nikki Taylor
6'3" Outside
Imi Ike
Division: 18 National
Started: 29th
Finished: T-5th
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

*Hannah Rooks
6'2" Opposite
Imi Ike
Division: 18 National
Started: 29th
Finished: T-5th

2014 Recruits
Kalei Greeley
6'2" Outside
Rancho Valley
Division: 18 National
Started: 3rd
Finished: T-5th
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM 

Savanah Kahakai
5'8" Libero/Outside
Imi Ike
Division: 17 Open
Started: 12th
Finished: 11th

*Kendra Koelsch
6'1" Setter
Laguna Beach
Division: 18 Open
Started: 17th
Finished: 11th

*=Sand Recruit

Boy's Junior National Championship (Reno, Nevada)

2013 Recruit
Kupono Fey
6'5" Outside
Kui'kahi
Division: 18 Open
Started: 7th
Finished: 13th

Jennings Franciskovic
6'4" Setter
Pacific Palisades (Pali)
Division: 18 Open
Started: 13th
Finished: 17th

Dane Keckin
6'6" Opposite
Pacific Palisades (Pali)
Division: 18 Open
Started: 13th
Finished: 17th

2014 Recruits
Larry "Tui" Tuileta
6'3" Outside
Ka Ulukoa
Division: 17 Open
Started: 7th
Finished: 1st
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
TOURNAMENT MVP

Luke Owens
6'7" Middle
Kui'kahi
Division: 18 Open
Started: 7th
Finished: 13th

Kama Paio
6'2" Outside
Pilipa'a
Division: 18 Club
Started: 35th
Finished: 26th

New Foreign Recruit for Warriors

Head Coach Charlie Wade has brought in a new foreign recruit from Norway. His name is Hendrik Nikolai Mol and he is a 6'6" outside hitter. Stephen Tsai of Warrior Beat posted and confirmed that Mol will be playing next season. Tsai also mentioned that Mol can touch 11'4" and is one of the top beach volleyball players in Norway.

There is a few recruiting videos of him on Youtube. Some fans have seen it and have been impressed with his hitting. People also mention he will make a great replacement for JP Marks who signed a pro contract before the end of the 2013 season.

Recruiting Video #1
Recruiting Video #2
Recruiting Video #3

Wahine on the USA A2 Team

Current Wahine outside hitter Tai Manu-Olevau and setter Mita Uiato both went to Dallas, Texas to train with the USA Women's National A2 Program. They were among 46 other college players to participate in this event.

All players were placed on one of four teams (Red, Blue, White, Gold) and Uiato and Manu-Olevau were both put on Team Red. Both players had significant playing time. Team Red ended the tournament by winning bronze.

Wahine Roster Changes

The University of Hawaii updated their Wahine Volleyball roster with changes but no real surprises. Jane Croson, Stephanie Hagins, Monica Stauber, and Kristina Kam have all been taken off due to their transfers. Katie Spieler who would be a redshirt freshman this season has also been taken off the roster because she is now a sand only player.

The new additions to the roster are freshman Nikki Taylor, Tayler Higgins, and Kyra Goodman. Also on it is junior transfer Keani Passi. People expect a new walk-on or transfer to come in soon but I don't.

Also Ashley Kastl changed her number from #5 to #15.

New additions to other school rosters are Croson, Hagins, and Kam. Croson was the only Wahine transfer who has a click-able profile while Kam and Hagins are just on the roster. UCLA has a 2013 roster up but has not updated it with their new players.

Future Wahine at Junior Nationals

Of the seven total women's indoor recruits coming in the next two years, four of them will be playing in the 2013 USAV Junior National Championships in Dallas, Texas.

All Team Results

2013 Recruits
Tayler Higgins:
Higgins is playing in the 18 Open division with her Ku'ikahi team. Her team is seeded 24th out of 32 teams. She is in the same division as Kendra Koelsch and Laguna Beach.

Nikki Taylor/Hannah Rooks:
Taylor and Rooks is playing in the 18 Nationals division with their Imi Ike team. Their team is seeded 29th out of 48 teams. They are in the same division as Kalei Greeley and Rancho Valley.

2014 Recruits
Kalei Greeley:
Greeley is playing in the 18 Nationals division with her Rancho Valley team. Her team is seeded 3rd put of 48 teams. She is in the same division as Nikki Taylor and Imi Ike.

Savanah Kahakai:
Kahakai is playing in the 17 Open division with her Imi Ike team. Her team is seeded 12th out of 32 teams.

*Kendra Koelsch:
Koelsch is playing in the 18 Open division with her Laguna Beach team. Her team is seeded 17th out of 32 teams. She is in the same division as Tayler Higgins and Ku'ikahi.

*=Sand recruit
 
Notes:

• Kyra Goodman was on the same team as Koelsch but has been taken off the roster due to some injuries she has been going through for a while 
• Koelsch went from the starting opposite to the starting setter because of Goodman's injury and other teammate Kelsey Humphreys is with the USA Junior National Team
• Gianne Guinasso's Tstreet team is the only team in her club not listed in this tournament
• Emily Maglio's team from Canada is not in this tournament
• Sand recruits Sydney Shinn, London Chow, and Kelsi Delgado are also not in this tournament
• Higgins' team and Koelsch's team will play each other on Day 2

The link for each players name is the results page for their club team. I will post a schedule for the matches later. I may or may not post results. The 18's division starts June 28th and the 17's division starts June 29th.