Chemistry has captured Riley Wagoner’s interest on both tiers of the University of Hawaii’s Manoa campus.
In her academic work on the Upper Campus, Wagoner, a two-time UH Scholar-Athlete award winner, switched majors after her sophomore year, shifting her concentration from biology to chemistry with an eye on a possible future in forensics.
When she crosses Dole Street and descends the stairs leading into the Lower Campus, the practice gym becomes Wagoner’s lab as the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team blends its array of talents and personalities in preparation for the new season.
“We definitely have been finding our way in what we bring to the table and just mixing it all together,” Wagoner said.
The process of creating a cohesive product within the roster began in earnest in the spring and continued throughout the summer, with Wagoner among the UH returnees who helped integrate two freshmen and four transfers into the program as the 6-foot junior takes on expanded duties on and off the court.
“I’m doing my best to fill some leadership roles this year, and just working on my communication,” Wagoner said.
Wagoner certainly hasn’t shied away from taking on new challenges in her academic and athletic pursuits.
As Ohio’s girls volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year for 2018-19, Wagoner knew she wanted to venture out of the Buckeye State and picked the school farthest from home.
She’d actually felt a connection to Hawaii since visiting as a youngster while her father was on an assignment with the National Guard.
“I wanted to go back so many times, but I just never had the chance until I came on my (recruiting) visit,” Wagoner said.
Experiencing the volleyball atmosphere in Manoa and receiving an offer from head coach Robyn Ah Mow “sealed the deal” on her college choice, which drew some quizzical looks from folks in Dublin, Ohio.
“Super surprised,” Wagoner recalled of the initial reactions after she committed to UH. “My mom got a lot of, ‘How are you letting your kid go so far?’ And she was like, ‘I trust her. If that’s what she wants, if that’s what makes her happy, go do it.’”
The UH coaches entrusted Wagoner with 14 starts as a freshman in 2019, and she was in the lineup for 27 of UH’s 30 matches last year, finishing third on the team with 2.63 kills per set.
Moving to Hawaii also provided Wagoner an opportunity to give beach volleyball a shot. She tried out with the BeachBows in 2020 “just because it was something different,” and earned a starting spot last spring. When she returned indoors, Wagoner could sense a difference in her conditioning and “in the fast twitch that you get from playing in the sand.”
She also credited the beach game for helping enhance her court vision while honing the ball-handling skills Ah Mow demands out of her outside hitters.
Maui’s Chandler Cowell also brings indoor and beach experience to the group as a graduate transfer from Saint Mary’s. Cowell tied for the team lead with 2.52 kills per set for the Gaels last year. Freshman Caylen Alexander is another newcomer who could make an impact following a productive career at Centennial High in Georgia.
Braelyn Akana averaged 1.70 kills per set while making 11 starts last season. Sophomore opposite Annika de Goede provided a flash of her potential on the right side with 11 kills on .429 hitting against USC in her first career start. She suffered a season-ending lower leg injury the following week and rehabbed in time for spring practice.
Tiffany Westerberg provided a spark during a run of seven starts during UH’s march to the Big West title and is also seeing extensive work at middle blocker during camp.
Pin hitters
NO. PLAYER CL. HT. HOMETOWN
#6 Riley Wagoner Jr. 6-0 Dublin, Ohio
Third on the team with 255 total kills in 2021. …
Career-high 20 kills, 15 digs, 3 blocks vs. UC San Diego.
#11 Tiffany Westerberg Jr. 6-3 Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada
Versatile hitter can play outside or middle. … Hit .375 with 7 kills in Big West-title clinching win vs. CSUN.
#14 Braelyn Akana Jr. 6-0 Hauula
Started 11 matches, averaged 1.93 kills per set last year. … Set career high with 11 kills at UC Irvine.
#17 Caylen Alexander Fr. 6-0 Alpharetta, Ga.
AVCA High School third-team All-American in 2021 … Posted 1,086 kills at Centennial High School.
#18 Kendra Ham Jr. 6-0 San Diego
Transfer appeared in two matches last year. … Served 14 aces with Cal Poly in 2019, one against UH.
#19 Chandler Cowell R-Jr. 5-10 Kula, Maui
Starter for indoor and beach teams at Saint Mary’s. … Older brother Colton played for UH men’s team.
#23 Annika De Goede So. 6-3 Nijmegen, Netherlands
Left-handed opposite appeared in four matches with two starts prior to season-ending leg injury.
