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.

Setter Swap

Most of you may have seen on other blogs or in the article in the Star Advertiser today that Monica Stauber (Newport Beach, CA/Mater Dei HS) has the left the Rainbow Wahine team. But a new replacement was found for her that is Kyra Goodman (Lake Forest, CA/Mission Viejo HS). She is a 6'0" setter who also plays opposite in club along with Kelsey Humphreys a Stanford signee. Goodman is the sister of Kaela Goodman (Lake Forest, CA/Mission Viejo HS) who will be a senior this upcoming season.

I think that Kyra would be one to possibly redshirt. I saw one of her recruiting videos and I wasn't fully impressed but I wasn't dissapointed. She seems like a possible project player as why she should redshirt. But camp is not even close to now so can't make an assumptions now. But someone did mention that she has the same swing as her sister which people seem very interested and confused about it. 

Greeley is confirmed so welcome to the Wahine Kalei!

Good luck to Stauber wherever she goes, we know a lot of fans will miss you!