Volleyshots

Expanded coverage of all things volleyball, including notes, observations and analysis on the Rainbow Wahine, Rainbow Warriors, SandBows and Team USA.

About the blog host

Cindy Luis covers University of Hawaii volleyball for the Star-Advertiser. She began her career as a sports journalist in Hawaii in 1981 with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and was the sports editor, assistant sports editor, columnist and beat writer during a 31-year span before the paper became the Star-Advertiser. She graduated from UCLA in 1977 with a B.A. in Communication Studies.

Latest news

Men’s volleyball: U.S. sweeps Korea in Olympic qualifier; condolences to Kahuanui ohana

By Cindy Luis on August 10, 2019

The U.S. men’s national team moved closer to earning a berth in the 2020 Olympics with a sweep of Korea today in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The U.S. (2-0) defeated the Koreans (0-2), 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 on Saturday, setting up a showdown with the host country at the Tokyo Qualification Tournament. Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) was the setter, finished with 3 kills, 2 blocks and 2 aces. Erik Shoji (Punahou) was the libero (no dig stats available). On the roster but not playing […]

Hawaii women’s volleyball: 2019 season starts with Day 1 practice

By Cindy Luis on August 10, 2019

Players were in Gym 1 before 640 Did a few warmups drills before official start at 7. UPDATING Practice very energized. very different from two years ago. Wasn’t just the AC. >> WAHINE VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE PHOTO GALLERY In 2017, team took 90 minutes to compete a passing drill which was passing a ball over the net to a player in the receiving line, below the antenna, 150 consecutive times without dropping (team divided on 3 courts). Today it took maybe […]

Men’s volleyball: U.S. opens Olympic qualifier with 3-1 win over Belgium

By Cindy Luis on August 9, 2019

Today’s match on replay today (Friday) 2 p.m. HST OLYCH Spectrum 202 and 4 p.m. HST on MBCSN Spectrum 210. May be other replays available. The U.S. men’s volleyball team, with two players from Hawaii in the starting lineup, opened the Tokyo Qualification Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Belgium in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Setter Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) helped the U.S. hit .586 in the 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18 victory. Christenson had three blocks and two kills. Erik Shoji (Punahou) was […]

Hawaii women’s volleyball: Faith Maʻafala new Wahine director of volleyball operations

By Cindy Luis on August 7, 2019

Just spoke with Coach Robyn Ah Mow and she said former Wahine setter/DS Faith Maʻafala is new DOVO (director of operations) replacing Aven Lee. Ma‘afala finished her UH playing career last fall. Nick Costello is heading to California so UH will have a new volunteer coach soon. —————— Here’s Ah Mow in an Wednesday interview talking about the start of full practices on Saturday. Here’s #HawaiiWVB coach Robyn Ah Mow speaking to @CindyLuis_SA about the imminent start of full practices […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: U.S. sixth after falling to Puerto Rico 3-2 at Pan Am Games

By Cindy Luis on August 3, 2019

U.S. again couldin’t hold on vs. Puerto Rico in the fifth-place match at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 15-8 Colton Cowell started at OH, Joe Worsley at setter and Kupono Fey at libero. Cowell finished with nine kills and a block. Worsley had a kill, a block and two aces. ====== The U.S. Men (1-2) will play Puerto Rico (1-2) for fifth place on Saturday at 9:30 a.m HST. Matches are being shown on […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: U.S. can’t hold on, loses to Brazil 3-2 at Pan Am Games

By Cindy Luis on August 2, 2019

U.S. nearly swept Brazil Friday, up 2-0, before losing 23-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 15-9 U.S. drops into consolation bracket, will play Puerto Rico Saturday for fifth, same finish they had at the Pan Am Cup. Colton Cowell had 2 kills and a block, playing in Sets 2-3-4-5, starting Sets 3 and 4. Joe Worsley used as a serving sub, served once in both Sets 3 and 4. Kupono Fey was the libero. —— It’s the U.S. (1-1) vs. Brazil (2-0) […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: U.S. sweeps Mexico at Pan American Games

By Cindy Luis on August 1, 2019

As has been our style of late, updating here U.S. wins 26-24, 25-22, 25-23 Colton Cowell did not play, Joe Worsley served twice in Set 3. They might be saving Cowell for Friday’s match with Brazil. _____ I am traveling so unable to update today’s result between U.S.-Mexico until much later. Appreciate at the help if you end up with the score before I do. Previous thread asked about live feed. This link is for live stats. Supposed to be […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: Despite Cowell, U.S. loses to Chile in Pan American opener

By Cindy Luis on July 31, 2019

Hawaii outside hitter Colton Cowell put down a team-high 16 kills but it was not enough as the U.S. fell to Chile in Wednesday’s men’s volleyball pool-play opener at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Cowell, a rising senior, added an ace in the 25-17, 25-17, 17-25, 25-22 loss at the Callao Sports Center. Former Rainbow Warrior All-American setter Joe Worsley, who played all four sets and started the last two, had two aces and a kill, and former […]