In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, University of Hawai'i Athletics will pay tribute to memorable Rainbow Wahine student-athletes and teams in a series of stories written by Lance Tominaga. The stories will run throughout the 2022-23 athletic season and can be found on the page #Wahine50: Celebrating 50 Years of Rainbow Wahine Athletics.

More than 1,300 wins. Four national championships. Nine Final Four appearances. More than 25 conference titles and 90 All-Americans. And the unwavering support of thousands of volleyball fans in the state of Hawai'i.

Since its inception 50 years ago, the University of Hawai'i women's volleyball program has enjoyed unparalleled success – both on and off the court.

Here's a look at part two of the history of Rainbow Wahine volleyball:

A WINNING CULTURE The Rainbow Wahine would win their fourth national title in 1987 with a convincing four-set victory over Stanford: 15-10, 15-10, 9-15 and 15-1.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Cindy Luis wrote after the match, "The recipe was simple enough: Take four hungry seniors, add one maturing junior setter, and one awesome sophomore hitter-blocker. Mix with equal parts coaching insight, teamwork and unselfishness. Blend until very smooth. Pour it on the last match of the season. Enjoy."

The seniors were Reydan "Tita" Ahuna, Suzanne Eagye, Diana Jessie and Mahina Eleneki. The setter, Martina Cincerova, would become Hawai'i's career leader in assists (since broken by Kanoe Kamana'o). And the "awesome sophomore" was Teee Williams – the season's AVCA Player of the Year.
 

As the college game increased in popularity – a 2021 study noted that 96% of all NCAA schools now have women's volleyball programs – so, too, did the level of competition. Still, Rainbow Wahine volleyball has continued to win.
You want consistency? Consider:

• Hawai'i has earned national tournament berths in every year of the program's existence except for 1992. (Note: The team's 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID pandemic.)
• The Rainbow Wahine have never had a losing season.
• Shoji retired in 2017 with a remarkable 1,202 career coaching wins, placing him fourth among all college volleyball coaches.
• His replacement, former UH great and three-time Olympian Robyn Ah Mow, has already won 100 matches in her five seasons as head coach.

Strand credits her old coach for helping to build a winning environment within the program.

"Dave Shoji built that culture here," says Strand. "He ran camps and clinics. He got the community involved. He built a rapport with the booster clubs. But it wasn't just Dave. It takes a lot of people to create this kind of success. A lot of visionaries helped make the program what it is today."

Then, of course, there are the fans.

"Oh, definitely," Strand says. "People felt like they could connect with us, and Hawai'i fans are so respectful of both you and your opponent. It's special. They always bring good, positive energy."

Current Rainbow Wahine middle blocker Amber Igiede, a two-time All-Big West First Team selection, echoes Strand's praise.

"One of the reasons I came to Hawai'i was because of how special volleyball is here," she says. "The fans stick with you through everything, through the good and bad. You feel the support, and it's genuine. You go to the grocery store and people come up to you and tell you how much they love Rainbow Wahine volleyball. They bring so much energy, and it's infectious."
 

Molokai native Kalei Adolpho says local pride plays a big role in the success of the program.

"To be able to represent Hawai'i was really special," says Adolpho, who played both volleyball and basketball for UH from 2011 through 2014. She was the first female athlete on Molokai to receive a Division I athletic scholarship.

"Staying home and playing for your state and university means so much," she continues. "It really is bigger than yourself. The older I get, the more I understand that. I've been done for more than five years, and people still come up to me and want to talk UH sports. And the smaller the community, the more pride they have in you. The more they feel a part of your success. I think that's really special and unique to Hawai'i."
 

For Bailey Choy, leaving home helped her to better grasp the specialness of Hawaii's volleyball community.

"My favorite memory as a Rainbow Wahine was Senior Night," says Choy, an Iolani alum who played at the University of Utah for three seasons before joining UH for her senior year in 2019. "I witnessed a lot of Senior Nights at Utah, and it's just not the same. Here, I had goosebumps and I just wanted to cry. Everybody is there to celebrate your career as a Rainbow Wahine. They're there for you. The amount of love that you feel, it's just irreplaceable."

A LASTING BOND Growing up, Chanteal Satele-Malepeai knew that her mother, Lee Ann, had played volleyball for the Rainbow Wahine. Still, she had no idea…

"I was in high school when she said, 'Oh yeah, I played, and we won two national championships,' Chanteal recalls. "And she said it as if it was nothing! Even my Dad was like that. Both of them never bragged about what they did." (Chanteal's father, Alvis Satele, was a standout linebacker for the Rainbow Warrior football team from 1981 to 1984.)

Satele-Malepeai herself was a gifted volleyball player, earning All-State honors while leading Word of Life Academy to the 2006 ILH Division II title.
 

"I wanted to play for UH, but I had to take a different route," says Satele-Malepeai, who accepted a scholarship to play at Saint Mary's College in California. "I [played two seasons] there, then I was, like, 'Okay, Mom, I'm ready to come home. What do I have to do?"

When she was offered a UH scholarship, she didn't hesitate.

"I grew up watching UH, and I idolized players like Kanoe Kamana'o," Chanteal says. "So to be able to come home and play for the Wahine was a dream come true for me. It was a fun experience. I think Dave [Shoji] had to step back a couple of times. He'd call me 'Lee Ann' by mistake."

Says Lee Ann, "Yes, it was a dream of hers, and so it became a dream of mine as well. To see her wearing that Hawai'i uniform, words can't explain it. I'm so proud of her."

Attending the games wasn't always easy.

"As a parent, there were times I was so nervous that I couldn't breathe!" says Lee Ann, laughing. "I would go to the restroom and ask God to take away every anxiety I had so I could watch my daughter play in peace. It was hard to just be a spectator. I would twitch. And when she jumped, I jumped!"

There have been other family ties in the program. LeeAnn's daughter-in-law, Raeceen Woolford-Satele, played for the Wahine from 2004 through 2007. Twins Kori and Kris Pulaski were part of Hawai'i's 1982 and 1983 national championship teams. Heidi Ilustre was a Rainbow Wahine from 1996 to 1999, and younger sister Hedder donned the green and white in 2001 and 2002.

Whether they are related by blood or not, Rainbow Wahine players past and present share an unbreakable bond.

"I remember so many [past] players, and I feel this instant connection with all of them," says Choy. "From about the age of eight, I used to watch all the UH Wahine games. I loved Kanani Danielson. I loved Dani Mafua. I even got to play against 'Higgs' (Tayler Higgins) because I was a freshman when she was a senior at Punahou. We all share this common ground – a love for volleyball. And now some of them have their own families and kids and careers. It's amazing."
 

Adds Igiede: "Obviously, Coach [Ah Mow] is a legend here. And there are so many others. I've heard the stories. The past players really started that culture of hard work and effort, and you can still see the passion that they have for the game. To be a part of that, I know I'm playing for something bigger than myself."

"It doesn't matter what year you played – you're a Wahine," says Pestana-Satele. "We all share this unique bond. I know that nowadays they're calling it the 'Sistahhood.' Back then, we never called it that.
"We just knew we were family."

LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD From its humble beginnings, the Rainbow Wahine volleyball program has come a long way. So, too, has the impact of Title IX.

For example, when the 1974 team placed second in the AIAW nationals, one Hawai'i newspaper gave the accomplishment just four short paragraphs.

Beth McLachlin remembers returning from the tournament and being interviewed by a local TV reporter.

"We just took second at nationals," she recalls. "I was an All-American and on the U.S. National Team. And this reporter goes, 'Don't you wish you were a boy?' Seriously, I was really thinking of punching him in the nose!"

Asked what Title IX means to her, Pestana-Satele pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath.
 

"It brings tears to my eyes," she says. "I'm so grateful for Donnis Thompson and Patsy Mink. Speaking for myself, I know it totally changed my life. Just look at the opportunities that women have now, not just on the court but also in the classroom. Title IX holds a very special place in my heart."

For Kalei Adolpho, Title IX gave her invaluable opportunities and experiences.

"It also gave me connections with with people that I otherwise wouldn't have made," she says. "My years in athletics and at the University of Hawai'i really helped shape who I am. I can't imagine what I'd be doing or who I'd be if it weren't for the people who came before me and paved the way. They made playing sports for me possible."

Adds Choy: "Title IX means everything. If there was no Title IX, we'd probably be in debt right now, paying for school. Maybe some of us wouldn't even go to school. Title IX gave us a path to become the people we want to be. It gave us the opportunity to become educated and successful, and to create careers for ourselves beyond volleyball."

Lisa Strand admits that she didn't fully grasp the importance of Title IX until her playing days were over.
 

"I didn't really appreciate it until later, in hindsight," she says. "You know, the older you get, the clearer you see things. Now I look back and think, 'Wow, I got to go to college and have it paid for.' And look at all the opportunities that girls have now. I hope young women today realize how fortunate they are, because the women who came before us were not."

Marilyn Moniz says the 2014 documentary video, Rise of the Wahine, is a detailed look at the history behind Title IX.

"Every Rainbow Wahine athlete should see it," she says. "Many of our athletes will go on to become teachers, coaches and community leaders. It's our responsibility to make sure Title IX is never taken for granted. We want to make sure that every little girl and boy has the opportunity to play sports on a level playing field. We want them to receive all the benefits that playing sports can provide them."

Similarly, Rainbow Wahine volleyball continues to grow and flourish. The Oct. 21, 1994 opening of the 10,300-seat SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center elevated the program to new heights, bringing record-setting crowds and prestigious tournaments. It was the Wahine that christened the arena on that opening night, defeating San Jose State in front of a sellout crowd.

"We started from zero and here we are today," marvels Moniz. "Building the arena was one of Coach Dave's big dreams. He envisioned an arena where the program could be showcased."
 

The early Rainbow Wahine players are in awe of the arena, but they have no regrets playing in the Klum Gym years.

"Oh, man," says Terry Malterre, laughing. "In our day, we had to wipe our own floors and get our own water. Our showers were like a P.E. locker room. Our trainer wasn't even full time. She had a little room where she would tape us if we sprained our ankles.

But you know what? I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. I had my education paid for and got to play the sport I love. What else could I ask for?"

"I don't feel like I missed out on anything," adds Pestana-Satele. "When I watch the Wahine play at the Stan Sheriff, my heart feels a sense of pride. We helped build this. It feels like a gift that you give to your kids, to the next generation. I just feel happy for them."

We'll leave it to a current player, Amber Igiede, to summarize the uniqueness of Rainbow Wahine volleyball.

"I have so much respect for this program," Igiede says. "You become a better volleyball player and a better person when you play for the Rainbow Wahine. Volleyball in Hawai'i is unlike anywhere else in the country. There's a special kind of magic here."