New week, new ranking, new opponent.
Hawaii’s 3-0 start to the volleyball season had the Rainbow Warriors moving up a spot in Monday’s national poll.
Hawaii, one of seven unbeatens in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, edged up one place from preseason No. 7 to No. 6. The Warriors will see their second straight Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association member for two matches this week in Grand Canyon (1-1).
It’s a short prep week for Hawaii, coming off Saturday’s 3-1 win over MIVA foe Ball State that gave the Warriors their eighth Outrigger Resorts Invitational title in the 23-year run of the tournament. The success is something to build upon, said sophomore opposite Stijn van Tilburg, who became the first to earn two Most Outstanding Player awards in the tourney’s history.
“We’re 3-0, it’s a good start,” van Tilburg said. “It’s important to keep battling the next game, the next game … and keep it going.”
The focus this week was on efficiency and effectiveness, both in serving and hitting, Warriors coach Charlie Wade said.
“I think we can be a little smarter in our attack choices and our serving can improve,” he said. “There’s not a lot of time to work on a lot of stuff this week, it’s more cerebral, more of a mental thing to prepare on a short week.”
There were a few changes to Hawaii’s personnel on Monday, the first day of classes. Sophomore Nainoa Frank (Kalaheo), who was transitioning from middle to outside hitter, is no longer on the official roster, nor is freshman defensive specialist Kahiau Machado (Kamehameha). Wade said he expects both to continue working out with the redshirts and again try out in fall.
In practice on Monday was 6-foot-5 freshman opposite Isaac Liva, who redshirted as a defensive lineman last fall for the Warrior football team. Liva played three volleyball and basketball seasons at Hawaii Baptist and helped the Eagles to two state volleyball championships. He transferred to Mililani for his senior year, where he played football, basketball and volleyball.
