Hawaii Warrior World

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

Hawaii beach volleyball: Former SandBow Karissa Cook wins gold at Pan Am Games

By Cindy Luis on July 30, 2019

Former Hawaii beach all-American Karissa Cook and partner Jace Pardon teamed to win gold at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, on Tuesday. The U.S. pair rallied to beat Argentina 14-21, 22-20, 15-10 — the first time in the tournament that the duo dropped a set. Cook/Pardon defeated Argentina’s defending Pan Am Games champion and two-time Olympian Ana Gallay and her partner Fernanda Pereira, Thick fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean blanketed the hills surrounding the sandy venue in […]

Hawaii volleyball: Cowell, J. Worsley, Fey on Pan Am Games roster; Wahine match with UCI changed

By Cindy Luis on July 28, 2019

A quarter of the U.S. men’s team will be comprised of two former and one current Rainbow Warrior at the Pan American Games in Peru this coming week. Named to the 12-man roster are Kupono Fey (Hawaii 2014-17), who played outside but is the libero; All-America setter Joe Worsley (2016-19) and OH Colton Cowell (entering his redshirt senior season). The same three were on the U.S.’s Pan American Cup team in Mexico in June. Cowell is the only collegiate player […]

Hawaii volleyball: Rainbow Wahine, Warriors earn AVCA Academic Award

By Cindy Luis on July 22, 2019

Hawaii was one of 198 women’s teams and 19 men’s teams to receive the AVCA Team Academic Award. Teams had to maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA. A record 1,126 schools received the award in 10 divisions: Women’s NCAA DI, DII and DIII, NAIA, two-year and NCCAA; collegiate men; collegiate beach; and high school girls and boys. It was the first award for the Rainbow Wahine; and second for the Rainbow Warriors. Also earning awards were Chaminade and Hawaii […]

Hawaii women’s volleyball: Rainbow Wahine get first oral commitment for 2021

By Cindy Luis on July 18, 2019

According to Twitter, the Rainbow Wahine have a 2021 oral commit from Mia Johnson who plays for Houston Stellar. Just putting the year down makes me feel old. She’s an all-around player from Clear Falls High in League City, Texas. Listed as a 6-0 OH. #hawaiiwvb receives their first c/o ‘21 commitment and it’s a verbal commit from @miatavis31, a 5’11 OH out of the Houston area.During the past club season, Johnson was named the MVP of the 16 USA […]

Men’s volleyball: Russia defeats U.S. for VNL gold

By Cindy Luis on July 14, 2019

The U.S. had to settle for silver after fallinog to Russia 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20. in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League final today in Chicago. Micah Christenson set the match, Erik Shoji at libero. Micah Ma’a played in Sets 2 and 4. Kawika Shoji did not play. ++++ U.S. and Russiona meet for FIVB VNL gold in a>Sunday’s final 1 p.m. HST Link for the match </ Looking like Brazil doesn't care today, playing Poland for bronze Poland up 25-17, […]

Men’s volleyball: U.S. rallies to beat Brazil 3-2, on to gold-medal match

By Cindy Luis on July 13, 2019

The U.S. staged a tremendous rally to defeat Brazil 25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-9 —- U.S. evens the match at 2-2 with a 25-20 win in Set 4 —– Brazil takes a 2-1 lead after winning Set 3 25-21 ===== Brazil comes back to even match, taking Set 2 25-17 ____ U.S. up 1-0, takes Set 1 25-21 Micah Christenson setting, Erik Shoji at libero. ______ U.S. vs. Brazil Saturday at 3 p.m. HST Link to match center Some prematch […]

Men’s volleyball: U.S. sweeps Russia 3-0 in VNL pool play

By Cindy Luis on July 12, 2019

Photo of libero Erik Shoji from FIVB The U.S. (2-0) with the 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 win over Russia, will play Brazil in Saturday’s first semifinal of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Chicago.(noon HST).. The U.S. (1-0) had already clinched a spot in Saturday’s semifinal, thanks to France going 0-2 and being eliminated. Poland and Russia also into Saturday’s play. Brazil clinched the other spot with a 3-2 win over Iran on Friday, keeping Iran from advancing. Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) […]

Men’s volleyball: National team defeats France 3-1 today in VNL pool play

By Cindy Luis on July 10, 2019

The men’s national volleyball team, with four players from Hawaii on the 14-man roster, playing France today in a Volleyball Nations League final round pool play match in Chicago. On the team are setters Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) and Kawika Shoji (‘Iolani), libero Erik Shoji (Punahou) and setter-hitter Micah Ma’a (Punahou). Not making the roster with Hawaii ties were MB Taylor Averill and LTui Tuileta. Also, Garrett Muagututia chosen at OH over TJ DeFalco. Coach John Speraw had a pool of […]

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