Hawaii Wahine Volleyball, UH vs SMU 8 30 24 (pre-game interviews)

it's the season opener at the University of Hawaii Rainbow W play host to the Mustangs of SMU this is gameon presented by Bank of Hawaii for rainbow W volleyball we're definitely excited to get in the gym um get with the you know the newest the new group coming in the Freshman good group of girls um they work hard during Double Days we're working really really hard trying to rebuild that uh Team chemistry again and you know losing all the seniors and coming with a lot of freshman just trying to build that connection again so I mean I think we're on the right track and we're going to get there and um we're really looking forward to the first game on Friday we're really really excited that it's finally here we've been waiting for so long it feels like and um we're just so ready to get after it well welcome everybody to another exciting season of rainbow W volleyball Scott robs along with two-time national champion Lisa Strand and former rainbow wah assistant Ryan Kay suji it's going to be one of those interesting years for the rainbow wahini there are going to be a lot of new faces look at all the players that departed after last year eight players are gone a couple transferred Kobe Lane went to Florida International he also had uh Paul gersing transferred to Miami but of course the big loss is going to be in the middle amberide gy it is going to be very difficult to replace sir but how about the guys that are coming back or the ladies that are coming back and there's still a pretty strong group of players kayin Alexander saw a lot of time last year of course kayy ikaga in the back as a labero and Hawaii with their Setter Kate Lang back as well so who are some of the newcomers for the University boy a lot of local flavor when you have Sylvester and you have arette you also have Lea labero out ofel pasle who can make some waves of transfer from hpu in Monahan and you have Matty way a freshman out of California and so with so many new faces let's get to know or hear about the newbies every year is going to be different and you know each year we have different challenges and knowing that we lost a lot of skill this year definitely is going to be ball control is going to play a huge role for us so knowing that that's what we've been working on during double days and just trying to get that ball control going and just reconnecting again I think that's going to be really really huge for us and be really important us for the long run there's been people who have come in to fill those shoes and they're freshman I mean it they're going to they're going to have to put work in and they have a lot of growth to still come but I feel like we have a really hardworking group that came in and they're ready to fully diverge their their lives into the wiimi volleyball program and that's really all you can ask of your freshman class is just to have a lot of loyalty and a lot of heart every time you come into the gym and that's what they're giving us so I'm really proud of all of our freshmen and and I'm really excited to see um see their growth through experience all right time now to weigh in we're going to weigh in on this season's rainbow wahini of course it is sponsored by hinin and guys it's been a long time that I can remember not really knowing what to expect for the beginning of the season of rainbow wah volleyball so many new faces and so many faces that were here the last couple of years are now gone and I think this is going to be the reality of what we see in college athletics with the transfer pter that now allows players to freely transfer to other schools but you're going to see a lot of more mass Exodus and large roster changes each season the thing with Robin Amo and this team is how can they gel quickly with a lot of new players being involved into this offense but not only into just a system being able to play under a coach like Robin Amo who has a very distinct style and high expectations for her players exactly Ryan and along those lines they also have to have time together they're young they're smaller size there's 13 players on the squad this year not a lot but being undersized and young adds up for the unknown and it's really about being patient and the timing they're going to need time together in order to establish and to fall into this system and drink the Kool-Aid of Robin Amo and staff are are you guys just as curious I mean what are what are your feelings heading into this year Ryan well I think the good thing is they have a solid core players it's not like you're looking at a completely new roster and starting lineup you do have some of these key players and some of those pin hitters uh like Itali hawkis and like Kalen Alexander players that I think will be very important offensively for this team in order to have success uh so I don't think it's a complete uh what's going to happen and hit the panic button there's a lot of consistency still coming back for w and they just have to be patient I mean we spoke with Robin Amo earlier and she says it's all about the defense it's the passing and it's our defense and if we can get into system that way other things will come along with it we've got to play Old School volleyball if you will you know you kind of mentioned that they're a little bit under siiz you know I I I think for in the big West that's going to be okay but when you start playing the texases and the Baylor San Diegos teams like that in the non-commerce I think they it's a possibility this team could get exposed early well yeah and Ryan alluded to it the trans reporter you it's very difficult to compete with these bigger schools they getting these athletes and they've got so many more opportunities just to jump ship and go on their way and I think the bigger question mark is how does Hawaii fill the role of a player like Amber IG and an all All-American who really helped to carry this team not only in her senior year but really throughout her four years she was a player that Hawaii went to early often and throughout her career how do you replace an All-American like that yeah should be fun kind of a mystery here tonight Hawaii SMU no mystery though are the two guys that'll be calling the action again back for another season it's canola and Chris thanks a lot Scott yes once again sitting next to see mat Chris mcclin I'm canol it's good to be with you again sir always a pleasure uh and a lot of excitement I think that as the corner crew has been alluding to uh this is one of those years where this is like Christmas morning and you're opening up your gift and you're not exactly sure what you're going to find inside you might have a clue what do you think we're going to see out of this Hawaii team in this debut well I watched him practice a couple times this week and I I really like their hustle I like their their chemistry so far um they don't have great size but still have to be really crafty about especially their pin hitters going to be really crafty about using the block um they play great defense I think they're going to be exciting and fun to watch there'll be some long long rallies they've got to be patient in those rallies but uh I think it' be better than most people think you know it's interesting because here is now year five for Kate Lang in this program playing under Robin Amo one of the greatest Setters of all time uh Kate speaking very openly here recently about the fact that early on she didn't feel like she and Robin Amo necessarily saw eye to eye but that she has come around uh she has appreciated being coached in the manner that Robin Elmo has uh and now she is the uh undoubted leader of this volleyball program yeah no no question about along with along with t kaga the two two big seniors but uh you know Kate for her club team she set the same people for 5 years the same people for 5 years so when she came to Hawaii every year there's new people to have to sit and get used to especially the middles so one thing I know she's been working really hard on is going to the middles early and often now you mentioned the other senior Tay kinaga it's just those two on the roster uh but when it comes to defense which has been for the history of this program the calling card the the Mantra do not let the ball touch the Teraflex it starts right there with number 16 absolutely it she'll be I think she'll be the captain of the back row she'll be caught up causing the uh calling the serving patterns the defense patterns uh and nobody digs the ball better than tayia kanaga she gets low she gets low to the floor a lot of Pancakes we'll see out of her I'm sure and uh she'll be serving those up with a lot of syrup which I know you like anyway I I love watching her play and and she'll be playing with a lot of heart knowing this is her last year now on the other side you have SMU this will be their first first match competing as members of the ACC they are coming off of a championship season in their final year in the American Athletic Conference and head coach Sam urer the way she describes it is coming into this year it feels like we have joined the big time yeah she was really excited about being in the ACC I know that but I I think she was a little bit disappointed though they were ranked so low I think they're picked for sixth she thinks they're good for at least fourth but it is a tough conference now they've got Stanford in there pit every week is a is a very difficult schedule yeah they returned Celia Cullen the American Athletic Conference cter of the year they have their top hitter back as well on the outside uh they have some transfers that are coming in this is going to be a formidable opponent to start here on night one of the 2024 rainbow wah volleyball season SMU has never beaten Hawaii they are intent on changing that history here this evening on opening night we'll see you at first serve game on will continue after this all right thanks a lot guys don't go anywhere cuz when we come back we're going to feature maybe the top rury the center Kate Lang right here on Spectrum Sports opening night I'm just so appreciative of this program and it's just been such a big part of my life the past 5 years and it means the entire world to me so every time that I have a first last or a last first sorry um I definitely am thinking about it and I am definitely cherishing that moment five years sure to go by quickly for Kate Lang now the master Setter for the rainbow W he the senior out of ker Texas you see your numbers last year started every single match at Setter 10 and 1 12 assists per game uh 2 and 1/2 digs per set 19 service Aces she will be leaned on heavily this year to get this team going particularly with all the youngsters and let's find out a little bit more from King I grew up on the same volleyball team um in Texas for 5 years and I never set a different hitter before I got here so that's something that I've always struggled with um trying to find new ways to play with new players and I think that it's a great opportunity this year to really um emphasize one of my struggles and really challenge myself and I think that I've done pretty good at it so far and I'm I can think that my teammates a lot for it just because they've been so patient with me I think she's talking a lot more there's a lot more um communication with the you know the middles Jas was here the only one last year so yes she got a lot of attempts with her but there's just I think there's way more communication she's trying you know cuz she knows that she's going to have to set you know one of those you know three in the middle so definitely more communication on her part I was like what kind of ball was that good you know do you need it higher do you need it faster so she's got to continue that you know I would imagine it was probably a little intimidating when Kate came to Hawaii to be able to to play for somebody the level of Robin am Mo I mean 10 years on the national team three Olympics but you know what it it it it has worked but in the long run really it's why she came to Hawaii she wanted to play for Robin Amo and Angelica linquist uh when she committed in 2020 she was like this is where I want to be I want to train with the the best to become the best and you know when you look at Kate Lang I mean this is a player who a lot of people thought got robbed last season being named to the second Team all big West after being named center of the week eight times last season she was left off that list but when you look at K Lang as a Setter she's not like some Setters out there where she tries to be too flashy or tries to do too much she's very calm uh she's very mindful very demure very consistent she's not like those other setters who just tries to do all these crazy things she's confident and she's consistent and I think Hawaii's going to need her this season so what is her approach particularly this opening weekend she mentioned when she played Club she sent the same people for 5 years she had a lot of the same players for a handful of years now some newcomers as well how what is her approach to setting I I guess this opening weekend well I think the thing with Kate Lang is she has that experience uh you know just being able to play for the last four seasons she's also trained with the US national team program this past summer which has given her the opportunity uh to really learn more skills and compare her talents with others throughout the country she's also a coach uh that she's really uh gotten into recently so I think all of those skills will help her adjust throughout the match basically she is the quarterback of this team and she's really going to have to take things literally into her own hands tonight especially with the youngsters and continue to have patience number one with them but get them involved in the offense so that they believe that she trusts them and I think that's a huge part of this game is gaining that trust in the players that are uh surrounding you well Hawaii's in good hands with Kate Lang it should be a fun one here tonight season opener Hawaii SMU will get you ready for the battle when we return every year is going to be different and you know each year we have different challenges and knowing that we lost a lot of skill this year definitely going to be ball control is going to play a huge role for us so knowing that that's what we've been working on doing double days and just trying to get that ball control going and just reconnecting again I think that's going to be really really huge for us and be really important us for the long run there's been people who have come in to fill those shoes and they're freshman I mean they're going to they're going to have to put work in and they have a lot of growth to still come but I feel like we have a really hardworking group that came in and they're ready to fully diverge their their lives into the wiimi volleyball program and that's really all you can ask of your freshman class is just to have a lot of loyalty and a lot of heart every time you come into the gym and that's what they're giving us so I'm really proud of all of our freshmen and I'm really excited to see um see their growth through [Music] experience back inside simpli firing at stand Sheriff Center SMU in Hawaii season opener let's find out what Robin Amo [Music] expects I think the big thing is just a fight cuz things are going things are going to go up and down like I said it's a it's you know it's not it's not out for anything you know if lose or anything but it's definitely a newer team there's you know a veteran Setter but there's just a whole bunch of like new hitters too that you know all got to connect and do all in front of you know obviously our crowd um the fight all right let's find out about the Mustangs of the ACC Lisa well Jameson Willer at 61 the outside hitter senior from Austin Texas led her team in Hills last year there you see her numbers Natalie Purdue also another experienced player second in kills on the team last year and NAA shining star is what they call her she really had a breakout year last year and contributed a ton to this team you know also SMU they've taken uh advantage of the success they had last year winning the American going into the ACC here you see three really quality uh transfers from those programs that are definitely going to boost I think SMU this season all right Ryan tell us about who to keep an eye on for U well Kaylin Alexander I think is going to be one of those key players to help lift the W and she's going to have a big season this year 3.10 kills per set last season and T Hawkins who played both on the left and right last season was settling she just joined the team a few days ago uh we'll see how she is able to integrate herself back into the lineup and T eek Naga really trying to provide that ability in the back court for the we name all right time now to bust out the field glasses and our watch list Ryan who are you going to keep an eye on I'm going to watch Stella adami she's someone who saw limited playing time but this year she's going to have to come up big and I'm going to be watching kin Alexander I think she's a six rotation player that has not truly shown her where she's capable of or what she's capable of and I think she's going to have a stellar yearor all right guys give me your final thoughts well I just think it's going to be a lot of patience for Hawaii it could be a long night but I think they have to just really be patient and confident I can't agree more opening night a lot of nerves a lot of new faces and a great new start to a new season well you can feel the electricity in the arena the fans are ready I'm sure you're ready as well it's a season opener it's Hawaii and SMU and it's coming up next [Music]