Part 1: H-TV: Three-Time Olympian Berg Takes Reins With Setters
Part 2: White Holds Off Green In Intrasquad Scrimmage
 

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HONOLULU – It's been 12 days since the No. 6 University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team took the Stan Sheriff Center court to begin their 2016 fall camp. Heading into the August 26 season opener against No. 4 Wisconsin, we'll be taking a deeper look at the 2016 Rainbow Wahine through a four-part position breakdown. Today, we open with the quarterbacks of the team and the key to the offense—the setters.  
Coached by first-year assistant and three-time Olympian Lindsey Berg, the Rainbow Wahine carry four setters on staff this year. Three of the setters are competing to see who will earn the first start of the season as one will need to sit out due to transfer rules.
 
"They're working hard, they're putting in a lot of extra reps and are really trying to prove themselves," Berg noted. "It's probably going to take some time for who's going to make that first start. They've got to fight, and it's exciting to have more than one setter capable of doing it."
 
Leading the charge in experience is senior Tayler Higgins, who has 86 matches under her belt, including three trips to the NCAA tournament and a pair of Big West titles. Last season, in 27 matches, Higgins ranked third in the conference and 68th nationally with a 10.73 assists per set average. As the primary setter for UH, she recorded 955 assists on the year, 201 digs and was second on the team with 28 service aces.
 
"Tayler brings a lot of leadership and experience," associate head coach Jeff Hall said. "What I love about her is her ability to lead vocally and by what she does on the court. She's somebody that, as a coaching staff, we know has gotten really deep into the NCAA's and the moment isn't too big for her."
 
Higgins knows all about the spotlight and shined in big moments for the 'Bows, posting a career-best 65 assists in the NCAA opening round win over TCU. She also had 48 assists as UH swept two-time defending national champion Penn State to advance to the Regional Final last season.
 
Junior Kendra Koelsch was outstanding in a reserve role for UH, playing in all 31 matches with five starts. With limited playing time, Koelsch made 322 assists with a team-leading .440 average. A taller setter at 6-1, Koelsch provides a bigger block on the front row, notching 51 total blocks a year ago.
 
"Kendra did an unbelievable job last year coming in and winning some big matches," Hall said. "As a staff, we're really comfortable with her coming off the bench. Certainly we don't want her happy with that role, we want her trying to work hard to beat out Higgs. It's a nice luxury to have, with somebody that we know can come in during major moments."

A 27-assist, two dig, two block, three kill relief appearance to push UH past then No. 2 Florida is just one key moment. Not to mention racking up a career night of 41 assists, 13 digs, and nine blocks against Big West rival Long Beach State.
 
True freshman Norene Iosia has come in ready to make a push for the top spot. Arriving from Torrance, Calif. and Redondo Union High School, Iosia helped her program to two consecutive state titles. A two-time DI State Player of the Year, Iosia was the winner of the 2016 Andi Collins Award for best setter in the nation.
 
"Many, many accolades in high school—all-everything I kind of call her," Hall said. "She has that 'it' factor and has Robyn Ah Mow-Santos hands, and she sets like Lindsey [Berg] already. What she has to learn is the college game, the systems and what it takes to win at this level."
 
Rounding out the quartet is Southern Utah transfer, junior Faith Ma'afala, who will redshirt this season due to NCAA rules.
 
"She's just a great, hard-working kid and her answer is always 'yes coach'," Hall said. "This year is a training year and an adjustment year. She's just redshirting because of the transfer element, it's not about her skill set."
 
Last year, in her second season at SUU, the Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama graduate rung up a team-leading 1,147 assists and was third on the team with 275 digs. She also set the SUU single game assists record at 63.
 
The setters will be a driving force if the Rainbow Wahine are to duplicate and exceed last year's results. Several of the top offensive weapons are back in place as long as this unit puts them in position.
 
"Setters have to be the leaders no matter what," Berg said. "They have to take responsibility for the whole team at all times and they always have to be present—they can never take a mental break. We've got three young ladies that are going to fight it out and push themselves, and at the same time help each other," Berg said.
 
The Rainbow Wahine open their season with the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Invitational (August 26-28) against No. 4 Wisconsin at the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7:00 p.m.