Hawaii women’s volleyball: Freshmen display poise in upset of San Diego
After the madness was over, Hanna Hellvig allowed herself a deep breath to process what she’d just experienced.
The sights, the sounds, the setting. College volleyball in front of 4,947 screaming people.
What a debut it was for Hellvig and Hawaii’s other on-demand true freshmen Friday night.
“It’s a big difference,” said Hellvig, a 6-foot-2 hitter from Stockholm, Sweden. “Back home, back in high school, we had like max, 50, in the audience. So this is huge. And everything around it, the music playing, and the cheerleading, everything is crazy. It’s out of this world. I didn’t imagine it would be this big before I got here. But I love it.”
Hellvig, Amber Igiede, Riley Wagoner and Tiffany Westerberg all had their moments in UH’s 25-19, 20-25, 16-25, 25-19, 15-10 comeback win over No. 21 San Diego.
#HawaiiWVB battles back to defeat No. 21 San Diego in five, 25-19, 20-25, 16-25, 25-19, 15-10.
Ends three-year losing streak in season openers. pic.twitter.com/9I4MHZdzpM
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) August 31, 2019
Hellvig had 13 kills on 36 swings (hitting .306), was in on four blocks and dug five balls. Wagoner had seven kills on .143 hitting, with a couple of blocks and six digs. Igiede appeared in the first two sets, with four kills and two blocks. Westerberg came on late and made an impact with five blocks over the last three sets.
Here’s freshman Hanna Hellvig after her 13-kill, four-block performance in #HawaiiWVB’s season-opening five-set win over No. 21 San Diego. pic.twitter.com/Cqr24W3kYJ
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) August 31, 2019
Collectively, they impressed third-year coach Robyn Ah Mow, who wasn’t quite sure what she’d get out of them when the lights were bright.
“San Diego’s a great team. Big, hitting strong,” Ah Mow said. “I think I was a little bit nervous” — she looked down the postgame interview table at Hellvig — “sorry Hanna, how the freshman were gonna be in this atmosphere, in this crowd. But I think they handled it pretty good.”
The team’s fifth freshman, Braelyn Akana, was not medically cleared to play, as was senior hitter McKenna Ross.
Between the freshmen and its four transfer players Jolie Rasmussen, Brooke Van Sickle, Bailey Choy and Kyra Hanawahine, UH resembled a completely new team.
The season began with a kill by Igiede, a 6-3 middle from Baton Rouge, La. UH took the first set on a cross-court kill from Wagoner, of Dublin, Ohio.
Freshman Riley Wagoner puts away Set 1, 25-19, for #HawaiiWVB with the cross-court kill. pic.twitter.com/jSiy2ywWWQ
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) August 31, 2019
Like their team as a whole, the freshmen waned a bit during the middle of the match, as San Diego seized Sets 2 and 3. Wagoner got roofed to end the third.
Somehow, they stayed in it.
For a couple moments late in the match, three freshmen — Hellvig, Westerberg and Wagoner — were arrayed across the net.
In the fifth, the freshmen were as poised and pivotal to the outcome as anyone on the floor.
“It was super cool. It was a great experience,” Hellvig said. “Everything is so new, but I feel kind of safe still because I am on the court, like always. And that’s pretty much why I didn’t really get nervous during it, because I feel at home at the same time as it’s a whole new place.”
Hellvig and Westerberg, of British Columbia, combined on a block to help UH take a 2-0 lead in the deciding frame.
Then, it was Westerberg and Wagoner coming together for a stuff on an extended point to go up 4-2.
Hellvig blasted a ball crosscourt for a 10-5 lead.
They contributed to the signature point of the night as Jolie Rasmussen ran down a ball near the UH bench, Wagoner flipped it over to the USD side and Tiffany Westerberg and Hanna Hellvig combined on a block to give #HawaiiWVB a 13-8 lead in the fifth.
“They did amazing. Just getting them to talk is probably the hardest thing,” senior setter Norene Iosia said. “But yeah, I think they definitely showed the type of player they are. Definitely resilient in big moments like this. Being calm and not frantic and just really balling out.”
Good report !
it was a great win. however, robin should try to use a libero as their pass-receive in games 2 and 3 broke down which led to their two losses. believe they have sufficient fire power with four hitters. the libero is very important, that is why most teams have one, they are good passers, setters when needed and diggers. san diego was not a strong serving team, but when they face a team whose servers can bring heat, they will have difficulty in the passing the serve. they have good enough liberos in okino, hanawahine, gong, etc. in games 2 and 3, the setters, Norene and bailiey had difficulty in making good sets because the passes were very erratic, the setters had to run chasing down passes to set the ball.
A work in progress, but very exciting to watch the young ones and the whole team grow.
Great report Brian! Aiea 7, and it’s Robyn not Robin, lol, I get corrected by Cindy for that all the time!
Brian, I especially love the one on one interviews you do. It gives us fans a great insight as to what these Bows are experiencing. I can’t imagine the amount of adrenaline that Hanna has to control when she was starting to experience the huge impact that the Stan and fans are. I’m glad the Frosh were mature beyond their years and was able to settle down and come back for a great win!!!
I’d like to see Robyn go with a libero tonight to see how that works. Maybe giving the hitters a chance to get in position and be more effective. GO BOWS!!!
Jolie Ramussen came up BIG in crunch time. The joy and passion is
evident. Team played with no fear. Kudos to Coach AhMow and her staff for their preparation and enthusiasm.
Didn’t know Hellvig could be such a good player. Hope she can keep it going.