How’s this for re-inventing one’s self.
The blank slate that Jolie Rasmussen envisioned herself having when she transferred to Hawaii from Oregon has begun to fill quickly.
And it’s only one week into her Rainbow Wahine volleyball career.
The junior hitter, who helped lead Hawaii to its first Hawaiian Airlines Classic title since 2013, added a third honor in as many days when she was named the national Player of the Week by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Tuesday. On Sunday, she became the 12th Rainbow Wahine to be named the Most Outstanding Player of the HAL Classic and, a day later, earned the Big West’s first Player of the Week honor of the season.
The national honor from the AVCA is the ninth for a Hawaii player, the last being Nikki Taylor on Nov. 22, 2016. Coincidentally, the last Wahine to be named the HAL Classic MOP also was Taylor, also in 2016.
“It’s something I never thought I’d achieve but wasn’t an end-goal,” said Rasmussen, whose three injury-plagued seasons in Eugene included a medical redshirt year. “It’s a by-product of everything our team did. I happened to get a lot of kills, but it was such a team effort. For some reason they decided to give me the credit.
“I’m very honored, feel that I’m representing the team. Wish they would give out ‘national Team of the Week.’ ”
Rasmussen, who had 55 kills and 17 digs and was in on 13 blocks, is just one of Hawaii’s weapons the Heineken Invitational field will have to contend with this week. The Wahine’s block is literally the stuff that is giving attackers nightmares; Hawaii had a combined 49 in 14 sets against then-No. 21 San Diego, St. John’s and then-No. 13 Washington.
Freshman middle Amber Igiede has 19 blocks and three other Wahine have 13. Last season, Hawaii had four matches in double-digit blocks; the Wahine are 3-for-3 this season.
Igiede is one of five with at least 18 kills.
All are newcomers: Rasmussen (57), freshman Hanna Hellvig (39), junior transfer Brooke Van Sickle (24), freshman Riley Wagoner (19) and Igiede (18).
“I don’t think I’m surprised,” Wahine coach Robyn Ah Mow said. “I saw it in practice.”
A look at the Heineken Invitational opponents:
Army (3-0)
The Black Knights went 3-0 in their Army Invitational, dropping just one total set in wins over New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Iona.
Junior libero Ana Oglivie (‘Iolani) was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, with 44 digs and and a serve-receive percentage of 1.000 in 41 receptions in Gillis Field House.
Senior Nikki Lum (Punahou) and junior Hannah Presley have been sharing duties in West Point’s 6-2 offense. Senior hitter Courtney Horance, a two-time captain and preseason All-Patriot League selection, leads the Cadets with 3.30 kills per set.
Army, 14-15 last season, was picked to finish fourth in the nine-team league.
Kovaci Lee, the first volleyball player inducted in the Temple Sports Hall of Fame, is in her 10th season (241-123) on the banks of the Hudson.
Sacramento State (2-2)
The Hornets, who lost in four at UC Davis on Tuesday, won their Sac State Invitational with victories over Canisius and CSU Bakersfield and a 3-1 loss to Nevada. The title was decided via point differential.
Outside hitter Sarah Davis, the Hornets’ lone senior, was named MVP, with junior middle Cianna Andrews also on the all-tournament team. Two other returning starters are sophomore setter Ashtin Olin and junior libero Paige Sweeney.
The Hornets, 16-16 last season, were picked to finish third in the 11-team Big Sky. After playing at Davis, Sac State has another nine consecutive road matches, with stops in Illinois, Arizona, Washington and Idaho; the Hornets don’t play at home in the “Nest” again until Oct. 3.
Ruben Volta is in his 12th season (90-47). The roster is young, with four sophomores and seven freshmen in addition to four juniors and one senior.
Denver (3-0)
The Pioneers opened the season by going undefeated in their Classic, dropping just one total set in victories over San Francisco, Southern Mississippi and Seattle.
Last season, the Pioneers set a program record for wins with a 27-3 record. They also won their fifth consecutive Summit League regular-season title, finishing 15-0.
Denver, the preseason pick to repeat as Summit champion, had three named to the league’s “Players to Watch” list in 6-foot-2 senior hitter Katarina Marinkovic, 6-foot middle Tina Boe and Louisville transfer Amanda Green, a 6-1 hitter pursing her master’s in marketing communication.
However, the most watched player in DU’s Hamilton Gymnasium last week was 5-10 junior hitter Lydia Bartalo, who had a combined 38 kills in the three wins.
Tom Hogan, in his fourth season (76-17), coached Ah Mow when both were with the U.S. national team.