Tiff's takeaways for UH Women's Volleyball - Week 1
By Tiff Wells
1. Walker’s First Win
For a program coming off its first ever losing season, then seeing an offseason include its Head Coach stepping down in late April (April 29th) and its successor hired on June 5th, there was an unusual amount of buzz and optimism throughout the summer as the Rainbow Wahine got ready for its season opener. A ranked opponent from a Power Four conference (Baylor), a perennial Group of Six power (San Diego) and another mid-major that’s won quite a few games over the last handful of years (Georgia Southern), the opening weekend wouldn’t be an easy one for UH. Fans were curious to see how the newcomers would mesh with the returnees and also what the program would look like under a brand-new coaching staff, one that didn’t recruit any of these 15 players. One true freshman (Rachel Purser) cracked the starting lineup that featured four returning starts (Adrianna Arquette, Cha’lei Reid, Miliana Sylvester and Victoria Leyva), a constant starter before her injury (Tali Hakas) and a December 2025 transfer (Panna Ratkai) that fans saw during the spring exhibitions. The wrinkle was moving Reid from an Outside Hitter position to the opposite, while utilizing Hakas and Ratkai as the Outside Hitters. Buoyed by the scrappy floor defense that has defined the program over the years, UH used tough serving to take a 2-0 match lead. In dropping the third set, Hawai`i showcased its resolve and ability to bounce back in taking the fourth set going away (25-18) to earn a 3-1 win. Getting that first win as a Head Coach is always meaningful, but to do it at your alma mater is extra special. Now 40-12 all-time in season openers and having won three of its last four, there was more reason to celebrate a 1-0 beginning, especially after last year’s 0-4 start.
2. Tali’s Return
August 31st, 2025. That was the last match of the opening weekend of the season and for Tali Hakas, one to take out of the memory bank. A shoulder injury early in the match pulled her out after the first set and she did not return. A couple of weeks passed and the absence of Hakas was noticeable. Losing a key piece of the offense, a valuable six-rotation player is one thing. But not having the heartbeat of your team on the floor (let alone available) leaves a team scrambling to try and just find a way. Once confirmed that the Israeli was done for the season, Hakas did all she could from the sidelines. There was cheering. There was coaching. You name it, she did it. Attacking rehab hard after successful surgery, she continued with her National Team over the summer. At the first day of fall camp, there was an ear-to-ear smile on her face as Hakas was asked about how it felt to not only be back, but to be healthy and available. And during the season opener last Friday against Georgia Southern, ovations for each of the starters were quite loud…but you could just feel something a little bit more when the Kfar Saba native was announced. Stoked to be back, she made her mark in the first set, going off for seven kills in 10 sets. Finishing with a match-high 15 kills was one thing, nearly getting a double-double (nine digs) was even more impressive, but the all-around game (serve receive, floor defense and the vocal leadership) was back. Welcome back No. 9. ¡Muy Bien Tali!
3. Battled The Bears
Once Baylor announced their schedule this past spring, Hawai`i knew they would have a Power Four team in week one of their schedule. It would be a tough home match and one that would feature a couple of Hawai`i ties. Former Rainbow Wahine Jen Roberts (now Jennifer Roberts McGuyre) is married to the Bears Head Coach (Ryan) and then the Associate Coach was former Rainbow Warrior All-American and Assistant Coach Joshua Walker. Coach Walker was the one that helped Baylor get Hawai`i on their schedule. Then June 5th came when Walker was named the new Hawai`i Head Coach. With him he brought Will McDonald, a coach that had been the Technical Coordinator the past three seasons with the Bears. Even with seeing Baylor play on Friday afternoon, there wasn’t much of a scout needed because Walker and McDonald knew the tendencies of the Baylor players quite well. Two instances for Hawai`i they were down by a set (1-0 and 2-1) and each time, UH battled back to tie the match to force a fifth set. Everything was there for an early signature win of the Walker era and the first Top 25 win since August 2023. It looked promising as UH got off to an early 2-0 lead. But the Baylor block, that had seven rejections in Set 1, equaled that amount in the final set to spoil UH’s upset bid. While the Rainbow Wahine did have 36 hitting errors, their defense frustrated Baylor in hitting a season-low .108. After a three-hour and two-minute match, many of the 4,912 in house applauded the effort and grittiness shown on the taraflex by the home team.
4. New Faces
Seven newcomers are among the 15 players on the rosters for this season and some big contributions came from some of them, especially on night one. Joining the group of spin servers is Panna Ratkai. A six-rotation Outside Hitter that transferred in from Dayton this past December, UH fans saw her play for the Green and White in the spring. Four aces in 20 serves without an error was quite impressive. She also picked up her 32nd career double-double with her 10-kill, 11-dig performance while receiving 23 serves without an error. One of the true freshmen, Rachel Purser also opened some eyes by playing both Middle Blocker and Opposite over the weekend. She made her official collegiate debut with six kills and two blocks, even serving an ace in the Georgia Southern win. With a very formidable Baylor front-line, the Las Vegas native recorded five of UH’s 13 blocks. While the the Bows weren’t able to run the middle as much on night two, Purser didn’t record a hitting error in her eight attempts while recording a kill and was in on two blocks. The other December transfer, Maëli Cormier was the closer on opening night. With the Eagles frustrating Reid, an in-match adjustment was made late in Set 3 to bring Cormier in off the bench. At 6’2”, the Quebec native scored six kills on eight swings to aid UH to win one of the season. As another arm and a solid block on the pin, it just provides more options for this coaching staff moving forward. With Hawai`i down 2-0 in the San Diego match, the Bows utilized a two-setter system as Manon Baudrillard came on in Set 3. The Paris native notched six assists and three digs as fans had their first glimpse of this freshman. UNC Wilmington transfer Marnie Ursem started the final set at Middle Blocker on night three, while Cameron Holcomb made an appearance as a service sub on night two. Providing depth on the pin is Mano Antiga and while she’s providing another arm in the practice gym, Hawai`i fans will have to wait to see her make her UH debut.
5. A Step In The Right Direction
Hawai`i knew this opening week would be tough. In the field of the tournament was a Group of Six team that had a lot of returnees which won 19 matches a year ago, a ranked Power Four team that’s made the NCAA Tournament 10 years running and a perennial top Group of Six team that also made the NCAA Tournament a year ago. If you just look at the macro after three matches, Hawai`i is 1-2 to start the season. The team is hitting .149 through three matches while averaging under two blocks a set. The micro after week one included: winning the fourth set after dropping their first set of the season on opening night, coming back from down a set on two different occasions against a ranked opponent, out-hitting that ranked opponent (.114 to .108) and outside of a lengthy scoring run by USD in each set on night three (9-0 in Set 1, 6-0 in Set 2 and 10-1 in Set 3), the sets are nearly tied. Week One showed a lot to this coaching staff, in both positives and things to work on. It’s a quick turnaround as Week Two begins this Thursday. What kind of adjustments are made? How will the team fare? We’ll all find out together, very soon.
6. The OUTRIGGER On The Horizon
The 30th OUTRIGGER Invitational begins on Thursday and all three opponents come to the island after each having a good opening week. Utah Tech (2-1) is UH’s opening opponent of the Invitational after a 2-1 (3-1 at Utah Valley, 3-0 vs Oregon State and 0-3 vs Utah) weekend at the Utah Valley Invitational. Among the local ties for the Trailblazers are Kaleinani Watson (Kamehameha Kapalama), Marley Roe (Kamehameha Kapalama), Mahealani Ikei (father Chad was a longtime professional strength coach), Head Coach Camilla Hafoka (Camilla Ah Hoy, Kahuku) and Assistant Coach (Shairone Thompson, Kahuku). LMU (3-0) faces Hawai`i on Friday after winning all three matches (3-0 vs Northern Arizona, 3-0 vs Southeastern Louisiana and 3-1 at Ole Miss) in the Ole Miss Volleyball Invitational. Sunday’s opponent is former Big West Conference member UC San Diego (2-1); they were at the Gael Bear Classic with wins over Saint Mary’s (3-1) and Gonzaga (3-1), while suffering a 4-set loss at Cal. The Tritons are led by first-year Head Coach Spencer McLachlin (Punahou). Hope to see you at the arena this week, beginning on Thursday.