University of Hawaii Season Review

Well the University of Hawaii Athletics has finished and it is nice to look back at what has gone on this season. The UH Athletics page has posted a video highlighting all sports and posted a review of all the accolades and accomplishments of the sports. But here are the volleyball accomplishments:

Wahine Volleyball

-The women's volleyball team won its 19th straight conference title (16-WAC, 3-Big West) and qualified for its 32^nd NCAA Tournament. 
- Dave Shoji became the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I women's volleyball history with his 1,107^th win during the second weekend of the season.
-The women's volleyball team ranked in the Top 5 nationally in attendance for the 19th straight season.

Honors
AVCA All-American: Emily Hartong (1st Team)
AVCA All-Region: Emily Hartong, Nikki Taylor (Honorable Mention)
Big West Player of the Year: Emily Hartong
Big West First Team: Emily Hartong, Ali Longo, Nikki Taylor, Mita Uiato
Big West Honorable Mention: Kalei Adolpho, Jade Vorster
Big West All-Freshman Team: Nikki Taylor
Big West Player of the Week: Emily Hartong (4x), Nikki Taylor, Mita Uiato
Senior CLASS All-American: Emily Hartong (2nd Team)
Big West All-Academic: Kalei Adolpho, Kaela Goodman, Emily Hartong, Ashley Kastl, Kayla Kawamura, Courtney Lelepali, Ali Longo, Jade Vorster
Seniors: Kaela Goodman, Emily Hartong, Ashley Kastl, Courtney Lelepali, Ali Longo, Kristiana Tuaniga, Mita Uiato

Warrior Volleyball

-The men's volleyball team closed the season ranked 12^th in the nation.

Honors

AVCA All-American: Taylor Averill (1st Team), Brook Sedore (Honorable Mention)

Volleyball Magazine All-American: Taylor Averill (1st Team), Brook Sedore (2nd Team)

All-MPSF: Taylor Averill (1st Team), Brook Sedore (Honorable Mention)

AVCA National Player of the Week: Sinisa Zarkovic, Brook Sedore

MPSF Player of the Week: Brook Sedore

MPSF All-Academic: Taylor Averill, Kolby Kanatake, Joby Ramos, Johann Timmer, Sinisa Zarkovic

Seniors: Aniefre Etim-Thomas, Jace Olsen, Joby Ramos, Johann Timmer, Nick West

Sand Volleyball

-The sand volleyball team qualified for its first AVCA Sand Volleyball National Championship with Karissa Cook and Brittany Tiegs advancing to the finals of the
AVCA Pairs National Championship.

Honors

AVCA All-American: Karissa Cook, Katie Spieler, Nikki Taylor, Brittany Tiegs

Tournament 1st Place: Karissa Cook-Brittany Tiegs (3x)

Tournament 2nd Place: Katie Spieler-Nikki Taylor (4x), Karissa Cook-Brittany Tiegs (2x)

Tournament Semifinals: Ginger Long-Ali Longo (4x), Katie Spieler-Nikki Taylor, Karissa Cook-Brittany Tiegs

Seniors: Karissa Cook, Ali Longo

All Photo and Video Credit goes to Hawaii Athletics

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

Rainbow Wahine Invitational

The Rainbow Wahine Sand Volleyball team opens their 2014 Season by hosting #10 Stanford, Loyola Marymount and defending National Champions #3 Long Beach State. All matches will take place at Queen's Beach in Waikiki with no live stats or stream. However, there will be updates from the new UH Sand Volleyball twitter (@UHSandVB). First match against Stanford starts at 9am (HT).

The #1 team for the Bows will be Karissa Cook and Brittany Tiegs. Cook transferred in from Stanford after a four year indoor career for the Cardinal where she was either the starting or backup setter. She was raised in Santa Cruz, California and played a lot of beach volleyball and used to team up with her former Stanford teammate and All-American Carly Wopat. Tiegs transferred from Florida State after the 2012 season but was forced to redshirt in 2013 because she was not granted a release. At Florida State, she was the #1 team with Aurora Newgard and was the #1 overall seed for the AVCA National Pairs Championships before falling in the semifinals. That season she was named to the sports ever All-American team. This duo of Cook and Tiegs have years of sand experience and should be one of the top duos in the country.

Other pairs that are matched up for Friday is Nikki Taylor and Katie Spieler, Ginger Long and Ali Longo, London Chow and Olivia Urban. The last duo was not mentioned but we will see who will play. (My Prediction: Karlee Riggs and Ku'ulei Zalopany)

Rainbow Wahine Invitational

Updates:

Hawaii (5) vs. Stanford (0)

Cook/Tiegs def Burgess/Bugg 21-15, 21-17
Spieler/Taylor def Wopat/Birks 21-12, 21-17
Longo/Long def Gilbert/Howard 21-13, 16-21, 15-6
Chow/Urban def Humphreys/Ajanaku 21-9, 21-18
Rooks/Riggs def Boukather/Ritche 21-17, 21-12

@hawaiisandvolley Instagram

One Sand Tournament Revealed

The University of Southern California announced its 2014 Sand Volleyball schedule today which included a tournament in Hawaii. On USC's schedule it has Nebraska and Arizona also in Honolulu followed by Pool Play and Bracket Play. These events happen on March 19-March 22.

The University of Arizona is one of nine schools to start a sand volleyball program in the spring of 2014 while Nebraska will be in their second season. USC and Hawaii will enter their third season.

In the Ka Leo article about sand volleyball I posted earlier, the University of Hawaii is going to have a minimum three home tournaments in the new sand volleyball arenas built on the UH campus.

Not sure when Hawaii's schedule will be posted but last season it was posted pretty late. The roster has all the players listed but they did not update the new players.

Catching Up With UH

Wahine News

• Senior outside hitter Emily Hartong named Big West Player of the Week
•  Seventh weekly conference award for her career
• Hawaii moves up to No. 5 in the latest AVCA Poll
• Received four first place votes
• Hawaii ranked No. 3 in first RPI release

Photo from Hawaii Athletics

 Warrior News

• Middlehitter.com posted 2014-15 commitment from Mamane Namahoe (Waiakea, HI)
• Plays with Pilipa'a Volleyball Club with other commit Kama Paio
• Position: Libero
• Hawaii Athletics posted a 2014 Schedule but no release
• Non-Conference Matches:
• Thompson Rivers (Team from Canada)
• Outrigger Hotels Invitational (Penn State, Ohio State, UCLA)
• Home Matches:
• Long Beach State, UC San Diego, BYU, UC Irvine, Cal Baptist, UCLA

Photo from Hawaii Athletics

Sand News

• 2014 Roster Listed (Roster)
• New players
• Karissa Cook (Stanford), London Chow, Emily Carman, Hannah Rooks, Sydney Shinn, Mikayla Tucker, Hannah Zalopany, Kelsi Delgado (Fresno Pacific)
• No indoor players are listed yet
• New sand courts have been added but not finished
• The team is now practicing there 
• KaLeo Sports article mentions that the upcoming season will host at least three tournaments

Photo from UHawaii SandVolleyball Facebook