After a tough 0-3 road trip to the Farm, the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team returns to the Stan Sheriff Center this weekend to kick off Big West Conference play, facing UC Riverside on Friday and UC Davis on Saturday. Both matches are set for 7 p.m.
Head Coach Robyn Ah Mow emphasized the importance of strong practices this week, especially coming off their first road trip of the season and the loss of star outside hitter Stella Adeyemi to injury.
“The team has to dig deep right now,” Ah Mow said. “We’ve got to get back into the gym. There are going to be different lineups.”
Senior middle blocker Bri Gunderson echoed Ah Mow’s sentiments, expressing concern for Adeyemi’s absence.
“Stella is such a big part of this team,” Gunderson said. “Not only has her play been really good, but she’s also a vocal leader for us.”
Despite the setback, Gunderson remains optimistic about the team’s potential heading into conference play.
“I have a lot of confidence in this team and the pieces that we have,” Gunderson said. “This week, we’re just going to try and figure out how those pieces fit together and be the best that we can be.”
One of those pieces stepping up is sophomore outside hitter Ravyn Dash, who tallied five kills after Adeyemi was ruled out against UCLA. Typically a quiet presence, Dash surprised her coaches and teammates with a newfound vocal leadership on the court.
“She actually talked,” Ah Mow said with a smile. “She hardly talks in practice, and then she’s calling the back row. It’s awesome.”
Sophomore middle blocker Miliana Sylvester also praised Dash’s emergence in the lineup.
“Now that her number is called, I’m excited to see how she stepped up, how she talked, and how she can continue to give to the team,” Sylvester said.
The Rainbow Wahine’s Friday opponent, UC Riverside (4-7, 0-1 Big West Conference), is coming off a sweep at the hands of UC Davis (25-19, 25-23, 25-13). Junior outside hitter Mia Delahoussaye led the Highlanders with nine kills, one block, and seven digs. She enters the weekend with a team-leading 106 kills.
UC Riverside also brings a local connection: senior setter Makena Tong, a University Lab School standout who once played alongside Hawai‘i’s Sylvester, making her way back to Mānoa.
“I’m really excited to see her,” Sylvester said. “We trained together a little bit during the summer, and we continue to be good friends.”
On Saturday, Hawai‘i (4-7) will face UC Davis (5-4, 1-0 BWC), who dominated UC Riverside behind the strong play of senior outside hitter Jade Light. Light posted ten kills, two aces, and two blocks in the sweep.
The Rainbow Wahine will look to bounce back in front of their home crowd and begin Big West play, starting at 7 p.m. HST on Friday, September 26, at the Bank of Hawai’i Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.