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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 15, 2015 15:19:40 GMT -5
Wahine eager to see EuropeBy Cindy Luis, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 15, 2015 LAST UPDATED: 01:42 a.m. HST, May 15, 2015 BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM Tai Manu-Olevao bumped a ball during the Wahine’s last practice before the team leaves for Europe.It has become her signature celebration move. After a big kill, block or point, Rainbow Wahine outside hitter Nikki Taylor does a windmill fist pump accompanied by a “Let’s go!” In a few days, Taylor expects to be saying it in Italian when Hawaii plays two matches in Milan against Italian Federation teams. Andiamo. Let’s go. “I guess that is my favorite saying,” Taylor said before Thursday’s practice, Hawaii’s last before leaving on its first European training tour. “it gets me pumped up and gets everyone pumped up. “I’m really excited about this trip. It’s my first time going to Europe and I’m excited about experiencing the cultural diversity as well as getting the international playing experience. I’m expecting a lot of growth for us and for me personally, having to play against other players I haven’t seen before.” Hawaii was scheduled to leave Friday night for Seattle, then fly Saturday morning to New York and then to Italy. The team — 12 players, 3 coaches, a trainer, equipment manager and three boosters — is expected to land in Milan Sunday morning. Although Hawaii is the most traveled team in the NCAA, rising sophomore defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson is the only Rainbow Wahine player who has been to Europe. She has visited Italy and Switzerland, two countries where her father, Jay, played volleyball internationally. A number of the players didn’t have passports when first told several months ago they were making the trip. “No, I did not have one, didn’t even know how to get one,” graduating senior middle Kalei Adolpho said. “I asked Robyn (assistant coach Ah Mow-Santos) how to do it. It was a good learning experience and it’s something good to have.” Taylor had traveled to Canada and Brazil to watch her older brother Josh play for the U.S. Junior and Youth national teams. However, it had expired and she needed to renew it. “I love to travel internationally, experiencing the culture, seeing all the history and, of course, eating the different foods,” Taylor said. “On-court maturity is something I can always work on. I’m excited to see us play internationally and be seen internationally. I’m very blessed to have this experience.” The four countries — Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Czech Republic — won’t be the only things foreign to the Rainbow Wahine. The matches against Italian, Slovenian and Czech federation teams will use the international FIVB rules and volleyballs (There is a match against the Tunisian senior national team tentatively scheduled in Prague). In practice on Thursday, the team used new FIVB-approved blue-and-yellow Mikasa volleyballs stamped with “Rainbows.” “It’s the international ball used for world competition,” Hawaii associate coach Jeff Hall said. “We (Hawaii) are one of the few places in the United States that doesn’t use it. “What we know about it is it floats a lot more than a regular ball. The international movement is more jump-float serves than jump-spin because this ball is really hard to pass. “But play with it for a few days and you get used to it. After a couple of days, the girls will be fine.” The rules that will be used are more like those in the men’s collegiate game. Whereas NCAA women’s regulations allow for unlimited substitutions, FIVB’s call for six total substitutions and one-time entry into the match. It takes away the defensive specialist with outside hitters playing all the way around. “The substitution rules are the biggest change,” said Hall, Hawaii’s assistant men’s coach the previous four seasons. “It’s six substitutions total and if you come off the bench and come out, you’re done. “The men’s (collegiate) game has mimicked FIVB international rules for a long time. It’s something that I’m comfortable with coming from the men’s side. And Coach (Dave) Shoji has been around the international game a long time so we’ll be fine.” The trip, the Rainbow Wahine’s first since going to Japan over spring break in 2001, is being paid for through donations and fund-raising.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 15, 2015 15:25:00 GMT -5
Cindy Luis from the Star-Advertiser will be traveling with the team covering the Wahine's Europe trip on social media. Countdown to Europe #WahineEuroby CINDY LUIS on MAY 12, 2015 ![](http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/euro-300x190.jpg?a26107) Excerpt: "As mentioned previously, we are leaving Friday evening. Arrive in Milano Sunday morning. ... Planned coverage includes this blog, twitter, print stories and video. A lot will be up on hawaiiwarriorworld.com. When it gets posted will depend on internet availability but have been told it will be very good in Italy and Maribor. my twitter account is CindyLuis_SA We’re using #WahineEuro" Full post here: hawaiiwarriorworld.com/volleyshots/countdown-to-europe-wahineeuro/
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Post by 5100 on May 15, 2015 18:40:15 GMT -5
Whereas NCAA women’s regulations allow for unlimited substitutions, FIVB’s call for six total substitutions and one-time entry into the match. It takes away the defensive specialist with outside hitters playing all the way around. It does not. A defensive specialist can still play for three rotations per set. Even the UH men's team, which uses FIVB's substitution rules, uses a serving specialist in the regular rotation.
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 16, 2015 22:58:04 GMT -5
For Wahine volleyball, Euro trip is a no brainerFor Kalei Adolpho and Ginger Long, a trip to Europe to play volleyball is way better than going to graduationBy Cindy Luis, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: 01:57 a.m. HST, May 16, 2015 CINDY LUIS / CLUIS@STARADVERTISER.COM Kalei Adolpho and Ginger Long left for Europe on Friday instead of getting ready for graduation.Walk in the graduation processional to seats in the Stan Sheriff Center or walk down a gangway to seats on a flight to Europe. Those were the choices for Kalei Adolpho and Ginger Long, who were scheduled to receive their diplomas at Saturday's commencement exercise. The two graduating Hawaii volleyball players opted for one last road trip as Rainbow Wahine. For them, there was no choice — or scelta, a word they would use when traveling in Italy beginning Sunday. "It was an easy decision," said Adolpho, who will play basketball this coming season while working on an advanced degree. "If you ask me whether I want to walk at graduation or walk on a plane to Europe, I would choose Europe every time. "I've been on a lot of road trips. This by far is the farthest, the longest and the most anticipation build-up. I'm really excited." As with all but one of the 12 Rainbow Wahine, this will be Adolpho's first trip to Europe. (The exception is defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson). Adolpho said she is looking forward to the competition as well as cultural exchanges scheduled to include music, songs and dance. "I think cultural exchange is really important," the Molokai-raised Adolpho said. "We'll see how far we get with the singing and how we handle the dancing. "The volleyball part … we know how important it is here in Hawaii, we know what it looks like, how big it is. I'm looking forward to going outside of America to see what the competition is like, how they feel about volleyball in other countries, what the interest is. I think it will be awesome." Hawaii is scheduled to play six matches between Monday and May 27, two against Italian Federation teams in Milan at the Italian National Training Center; three against Slovenian Federation teams in Maribor, Slovenia; and one in Prague against a Czech Republic team. A match with the Tunisian National Team is tentatively scheduled in Prague as well. Long said she was torn between graduation and Europe and "honestly, I was a little sad not knowing which way to go," she said. "But when you're given an opportunity like this, it's once in a lifetime, and there's no way to say no. "It's always been a dream of mine to travel; Italy being one of the top things on my bucket list. I'm planning on my master's so I will walk then. It's pretty much a win-win situation for me." Long and Adolpho came in together as freshmen in 2011 from neighbor islands with Long — a Kamehameha-Maui graduate — redshirting and Adolpho — out of Molokai High — playing volleyball and basketball. While Adolpho will continue to play basketball during her fifth year of eligibility this coming season, Long decided to forego a fourth year in volleyball. The two shared the senior night experience last November. This trip is a way of extending that team bond. "I think playing volleyball at this high level will be awesome in preparing next year's team for what they have to do," Long said. "That is another part of why I'm really stoked about getting to go. "And being able to share our Hawaiian culture is a huge thing. Once people see it, they want to come to Hawaii. Being from the Hawaiian culture, I think we're really receptive to other cultures. And we're excited to see what the other cultures have to offer." Adolpho agreed she wasn't ready to leave volleyball behind. "To be able to be with a bunch of girls I enjoy being around … I wasn't ready to give it up," she said. "Luckily, I get this chance to prolong it a little longer." This also will be the first trip to Europe for Jeff Hall, who was hired in January for the dual role of indoor associate head coach and sand volleyball head coach. "I wanted to go to Europe to play professionally but chose to have a (pro) sand career," Hall said. "I'm so glad I'm going with Dave (UH head coach Shoji) and Robyn (assistant Ah Mow-Santos), who have been to Europe a lot. I've waited 20 years for this and I'm excited." ![](http://media.staradvertiser.com/images/Wahine-EUROPE-trip-FIXEDLG.jpg)
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 17, 2015 14:01:15 GMT -5
Family timeFor Clare-Marie Anderson and her ohana, a return to Italy will be a homecomingBy Cindy Luis, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 17, 2015 LAST UPDATED: 01:33 a.m. HST, May 17, 2015 COURTESY ANDERSON FAMILY Jay, Clare-Marie, then 10 years old, and Janet Anderson visited Italy eight years ago.MILAN » Of the things Hawaii and Italy have in common, one in particular stands out. The importance of family. Ohana. La famiglia. That both cultures so embrace it made Jay Anderson's journey to play professional volleyball in Italy for Olympia Pallavolo Bergamo a little easier. Anderson, father of Hawaii defensive specialist Clare-Marie, spent just one season as the only "Americano" on the team, but it was an experience that remains close to his heart some 35 years later. "I loved the people, they were fantastic," said the 1975 Punahou graduate, who went on to an All-American career at Pepperdine. "They are such big sports fans. "Soccer is a religion, but our volleyball team was really popular. We were almost like the Wahine. We were a big deal in that town. They were just the most embracing, welcoming people I've ever known." Although the Rainbow Wahine won't get a chance to visit Bergamo during their four-day stay in Italy, Clare-Marie did so eight years ago when her father's team had a reunion. "It was so cool to go back and see the people he played with and stayed with," said Anderson, who was 10 at the time. "The people are so nice and so welcoming. Even though I was meeting them for the first time, they felt like family after a day. "What was really cool was you saw that the love they had for each other never went away, even after all those years." Jay Anderson was fresh out of college when he decided he wasn't ready to stop playing volleyball. Through connections he ended up with Bergamo, arriving "alone, naive and not speaking a word of Italian," he said. "I was picked up by the coach, Nuccio Longhi, and two players. No one spoke English. "It was total immersion. The first 12 days, I stayed with a different player every night. After 12 nights of eating and bantering in Italian, I was exhausted, but I was learning Italian. Then I ended up staying with a family for an entire month because they didn't want me eating alone." Ah, food. Cibo. The international language. Anderson's favorite became ravioli bergamasca, a regional speciality of handmade pasta shells stuffed with a mixture of bread crumbs, egg, parmesan and meat. However, it wasn't the best thing he ate. "We went to a very special restaurant, maybe sat only 20-25 people," Anderson said. "There was a guy in a tuxedo playing a grand piano. "They wanted me to try the specialty that the restaurant was famous for. It looked like oatmeal, but it was the best thing I'd ever had in my life. "I asked what it was and they said cow's brains. I had to finish it — it really was the best dish I'd ever had — but I'll never have it again." The family wasn't as adventurous when dining on their viaggio di ritomo (return visit). Clare-Marie particularly remembers one dessert. "The food is amazing, it's so good," she said. "My favorite was the tiramisu. It was homemade and the best thing I've ever had. "I'm really excited. My Italian is not very good. I took six years of French, so maybe that will help a little." She knew enough that, when she learned she'd be making the trip, she called her father, saying, "Ciao, Papa." ("Hello, Dad.") "Even though it was just one year in Jay's life (the 1980-81 season), he just loved the people and really bonded with them," Janet Anderson said of her husband's experience. "Even when he was playing in Switzerland for six years, we'd drive down once or twice a year to visit. "It was special to share that with Clare-Marie that, after so many years, he was so highly revered, that he not only loved them but they loved him." Bergamo, which traces its founding to 49 B.C., is about 30 miles northeast of Milan. The team's reunion week in 2007 included an exhibition at the club's gym, many large meals and the news from Hawaii that Clare-Marie had been accepted at Punahou. Jay Anderson has been in contact with friends in the area and some might attend one of the matches the Wahine will play against Italian teams in Milan. "When we went back in 2007, they asked what we wanted to see," Jay Anderson said. "We told them we just want to visit with all of you and share our family with yours. "That Clare-Marie is going with her volleyball team is very special. They may be surprised at how wonderful the reception is." » Hawaii was scheduled to arrive in Milan around 9 a.m. Sunday Hawaii time. The Wahine then were to head to the Italian National Training Center for practice and lunch while waiting for their hotel rooms to be ready.
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Post by watufaka on May 17, 2015 16:29:26 GMT -5
Kalei is gorgeous. I'm going to miss seeing her do the Molokai slide on the court.
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Post by Wolfgang on May 17, 2015 19:46:43 GMT -5
Why aren't Guinasso and Ponce going?
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 18, 2015 14:52:50 GMT -5
Stroll through historyThe Wahine volleyball team experiences a full day of Italian tradition wrapped around a two-hour practiceBy Cindy Luis, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:32 a.m. HST, May 18, 2015 CINDY LUIS / CLUIS@STARADVERTISER.COM Rainbow Wahine players Kalei Greeley, Nikki Taylor and Emily Maglio posed in front of the Duomo di Milano, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente.MILAN » The first day in Milan was a full day — and night — for the Hawaii volleyball team. So full in fact that the Rainbow Wahine twice partook in the Italian tradition of passeggiata — a walk or stroll — before and after dinner Sunday evening near the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral Square of Santa Maria Nascente. There was also the four-block walk to and from Hotel Raffaello that bookended a two-hour practice at the Italian National Training Center. It was all part of the plan to hit the ground running — or at least moving — after arriving Sunday morning following a three-flight trip of 24 hours that began in Honolulu on Friday night. "I was very surprised how energized everyone was," Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. "It was a good practice. We kept to our routine and there were no injuries. That's always a good thing." Nothing changed Monday, with another two-hour morning practice followed by a 40-minute drive to Lake Como for lunch and sightseeing. The Rainbow Wahine return to Milan to continue prepping for Tuesday's first match against an Italian Federation team. Hawaii is just one of nearly a dozen college volleyball teams training and playing in Europe this May on a Bring It Promotions tour. The Wahine are the "name program," according to BIP's Cory Solomon, a former Utah assistant whose team played Hawaii in the old Western Athletic Conference. Also making trips across the Atlantic are the indoor women's teams from Kansas, Baylor and Pacific, and all-star teams from the Big Ten and Mountain West. (The Pac-12 is sitting this one out after coming the previous two years). Newly crowned AVCA collegiate sand national champion USC also is here, on a tour led by former Rainbow Warriors setter Nej Zemljak, who will meet up with Hawaii later in the week in Slovenia. While the Rainbow Wahine were free to walk and shop around the plaza before and after dinner, Shoji, associate coach Jeff Hall and equipment manager James Buccella took advantage of the free time as well, enjoying a coffee at a cafe across from the Duomo during a picture-perfect late Sunday afternoon. "How perfect is this?" Shoji said. "Outside a cafe in front of one of the most famous churches in the world." "I'm in awe, it's an awesome experience," said Hall. He and Buccella are both making their first trip to Italy. "It's really hard to put into words. "What I'm going to be interested in is how the girls react to everything they are experiencing. It's all pretty cool." Duomo di Santa Maria Nascente (Cathedral of St. Mary of the Nativity) is the largest church in Italy and fifth-largest in the world. Built in the Italian Gothic style, construction began in 1386 and officially was completed in 1965. Star-Advertiser reporter Cindy Luis is accompanying the Wahine volleyball team on its trip to Europe, where the team will train and play exhibition matches. Luis will provide daily accounts in print and online of the trip. Follow her cindyluis_SAWORD OF THE DAYPasseggiata (pah-sah-gee-ah-tah) A walk or stroll, usually in the evening
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 18, 2015 14:55:24 GMT -5
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 18, 2015 19:18:52 GMT -5
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 18, 2015 19:22:34 GMT -5
Star-Advertiser blog: Monday practice and fun day at Lake Comoby CINDY LUIS on MAY 18, 2015 Excerpt: ". . . Monday began with another practice at the Palestra, the smaller gym at the Italian National Training Center for Volleyball – Centro Pavesi. It’s a couple of blocks from our hotel to walk. Team has looked pretty good in practice, considering the fatigue from getting here. Maglio has imprvoved on her slide and Greeley has put down some impressive kills when they are running the X. Manu-Olevao has taken some monster shots both sides but she is definitely better on the left. Taylor doing well on the right. The team is practicing with the FIVB Mikasa balls and also working on learning the different rules at the FIVB level as opposed to the NCAA rules. . . ." Full post here: hawaiiwarriorworld.com/volleyshots/monday-practice-and-fun-day-at-lake-como/
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 18, 2015 19:26:07 GMT -5
From Twitter: cindyluis_SA
Monday practice at the Palestra On to Lake Como next! ![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFSGFdAUsAEUiJl.jpg)
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 19, 2015 13:56:25 GMT -5
Wahine embrace change and adaptBy Cindy Luis, Honolulu Star-AdvertiserPOSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 19, 2015 CINDY LUIS / CLUIS@STARADVERTISER.COM Lago Di Como.
MILAN » The only thing constant is change. And the key to surviving change is to embrace and adapt. Change with the change, so to speak. It's how the Hawaii volleyball team has approached the itinerary during the first week of its European training tour. A last-minute change in schedule by the French national team has created a domino effect that has several other national teams moving matches and flight times as they prepare for next month's Baku 2015, the inaugural European Games, in Azerbaijan. The Rainbow Wahine's match against the Italian women's national team is on as planned for Tuesday evening (6 a.m. Hawaii time) at the Centro Pavesi, home to the Italian Volleyball Federation's training center. However, the match against the Slovenian national team is moving up a day from Thursday to Wednesday and will be played in northern Italy near the Swiss border instead of Slovenia. There's also a chance that next week's match against Tunisia will not happen at all because of the visa problems the team is having getting into Europe due to the tightening on immigration from African nations. It's another whole volleyball world on the other side of the world and this cambiamento di program (change of plan) is exactly the kind of eye-opening experience Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji hopes for for his players. "We've only been here two days, but already we've had great experiences," he said. "Monday in Milan and its city central, Tuesday in Lake Como, a country-side town. So many languages being spoken, rarely hearing English being spoken. Great Italian food. "It's just Europe. It's been great so far." There was one change that Hawaii didn't want to make for Tuesday's match — using the NCAA volleyball rules instead of the FIVB international rules. It was more of an option, one a number of other U.S. teams who have had a training tour in Europe have taken advantage of. "We've been practicing (with FIVB rules and volleyballs); we want that experience for our team," Shoji said. "This is how they play in Europe and that's how we want to play while we're here. "It's all part of experiencing this side of volleyball." Hawaii has had two practices at the training center's smaller gym, one that is very similar in size and humidity to Gym I on the UH campus. They've been efficient and productive as the final practices before fall camp. Monday's team bonding continued via a bus ride from the hotel to Lago di Como (Lake Como), where the Rainbow Wahine availed themselves of much of what the city had to offer. Boat ride around the lake. Kayaking on the lake, including an optional swim. A tapestry exhibit at the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, the last Gothic-style cathedral to be built in Italy. A ride on the Como-Brunate funicolare, the incline railway that connects the city of Como with the village of Brunate two-thirds of a mile uphill. Panini. Gelato. Pasta. Other than the slow, intermittent Internet access, the Wahine wouldn't change a thing. Of course, there's always tomorrow. Star-Advertiser reporter Cindy Luis is accompanying the Wahine volleyball team on its trip to Europe, where the team will train and play exhibition matches. Luis will provide daily accounts in print and online of the trip. Follow her cindyluis_SAWORD OF THE DAY
Cambiamento (Kahm-bee-ah-MEN-toe) » Change
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on May 19, 2015 14:00:25 GMT -5
Looks like the Wahine lost all 4 sets to the Italian National Team this morning: From Cindy Luis' twitter feed: cindyluis_SA"Good showing by Wahine Had a hard time passing the bullet serve of Paula Egonu just 16 years old #WahineEuro." ![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFYx9SBUEAA12q6.jpg)
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Post by volleyballfan99 on May 19, 2015 19:44:54 GMT -5
Dave Shoji needs to keep an eye on that 16 yr old, Paula Egonu. Try to get her over here to play for the Wahine come 2016, or 2017. She could just be the next Tee Williams, or Kanani Danoldson. Has a ton of international experience already. Will be on the Italian Olympic team come 2016.
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