Ilihia Huddleston will play her final career collegiate matches for the University of Hawai'i beach volleyball program in this week's NCAA Championships and will leave ranked in the top 10 in career wins at UH.
A spirited competitor, she has dedicated herself not only to her sport but also her culture, something deeply reflected by the oli (chant) she leads before every match. After years of fusing culture and collegiate play, Huddleston will have continued the legacy of her family name both in the sporting world and at the university.
Can you tell us about where you're from?
I was born here on O' ahu, then my family moved to the Big Island when I was one. We lived there until I was about six years old and then we moved to San Diego. I lived there up until I graduated high school and then I moved back here. My pride tells me I was raised here but I would claim to have been raised in San Diego too.
How has it been returning to Hawai'i?
It's been the most natural experience. I was longing to come back home, although I've never really felt out of place in San Diego. I just needed to find myself and my culture and I was able to do that here.
What does it mean to you to be playing for UH considering you're of Hawaiian ancestry?
I am studying my mo'okū'auhau (genealogy) and so knowing the ways in which my ancestors lived, I think they would be so proud of me. Not only am playing Division I collegiate beach volleyball but I am also studying my history and trying to be a part of where I'm from as well as be a part of the community. It means a lot that I'm doing something good for my family and for myself. There's just nothing more prideful than a Hawaiian in Hawai'i.
Tell me about the oli you lead before every UH beach volleyball match.
We do the i kū mau mau oli and we chant together as a team before every tournament. The
oli talks about having all hands on a tree that is brought down the mountain in order to make it into a canoe. Metaphorically speaking, we need everyone on deck at the same time with the same mindset to accomplish anything. When people from the mainland hear the Hawaiian chanting on the beach, everyone goes silent. It's a statement we're making that empowers our presence.
How long have you been playing beach volleyball?
I've been playing beach volleyball since I was eight, and indoor volleyball since I was five. I've practically been playing volleyball right out of the womb.
What led to you ultimately choosing beach volleyball over indoor volleyball?
I always liked being in control of the game rather than being controlled by a team. Indoor volleyball is a lot more competitive and political in high school. I prefer beach volleyball because it's about independence and it's more relaxed compared to indoor volleyball.
What or who has inspired you to play?
As a professional polo player, my dad has always given me that motivation and that drive to be competitive in sports. I looked up to my older sister (Hi'ilawe) too, because she was a natural athlete and she was a great role model to me. She was a great example of what it looked like to be a Rainbow Wahine.
Your father used to be a professional polo player and is currently one of the top officials in the sport. What was it like for you to be exposed to polo at a young age?
It was great! It was like living multiple lives because I could go to the beach and play volleyball with my friends and afterwards, I would go to the barn to ride and feed the horses with my family. Being raised around so many animals also gave me this love and empathy for everything. I was grateful for the lifestyles I got to live.
Tell us more about your relationship with your family.
We are a unit. As a female dominated family of five, we are very emotional but we are loving and supportive too. My dad is such an amazing girl dad, he loves us unconditionally and my mom is like Superwoman. My sisters and I have our moments when we want to scrap but it's all love. We're just such a strong unit and I'm so grateful for them.
What have these relationships taught you?
The relationship with my family has taught me to keep my circle small and to value loyalty over love. Keeping a healthy relationship with your family is one of the most important things in the world. Professionally, my dad taught me how to stay cool and composed as an athlete. I got my competitive personality from him because he's so cool on the field. He's really respectful and respectable and my mom was fiery on the court, so they gave me a good balance.
Your older sister played four years for the BeachBows. What has it been like for you to follow the UH path of your sister?
I have always wanted my own goals and accomplishments but in terms of getting through challenges, my sister has taught me so much. She's dealt with a back injury and with a shoulder injury similar to mine. She's also dealt with the mental challenges that come with this sport. She's been such a good example for me on how to get through those things but I do have my own goals.
What hopes or expectations do you have for your younger sister?
I hope that she wins a million more games than me and my older sister did. I hope she does so much better than us even though we both had a good career. I hope she'll be able to get All-American one year and claim a conference title as well as an NCAA title. I hope that she'll be a really good leader on the court and in Hawaiian studies because I know she wants to do that too.
Your freshman season in 2020 was halted by COVID and even the next season was condensed. What was it like to endure those early years in your career and how did it influence the type of person and athlete you are today?
Because those seasons were short and unexpected, I learned to take advantage of every single moment. I couldn't just waste a touch on the ball, I couldn't waste a practice, and I couldn't waste a tournament just because there was going to be a next one. I'm now realizing that there isn't always a next one. Those two seasons helped me to really appreciate every moment I'm playing and to enjoy it to the fullest.
How would you assess this season so far, both from an individual and team aspect?
From an individual aspect, I grew very much from the beginning of the season up until now. I started as an emotional player and I got frustrated really easily. Now, I am the most calm and collected I have been in my career here. My partner Jaime Santer has been such an amazing partner. She's smart and she's beach volleyball-minded. It's easy to work with someone who understands the game so that really helped me to relax and just enjoy the moment. From a team aspect, as we're just coming off of a really hard loss though we've had a strong season, everyone just wants to go out and give everything that we can now.
What are the biggest challenges for you right now?
My biggest challenge is my back injury. I have to medically retire because of my back. My other challenge would be realizing it's my last week of collegiate volleyball ever so that identity crisis is creeping in.
How does it feel to have finished your last two seasons in the NCAAs and ranking in the top 10?
I am so proud of myself and of our team and I appreciate ending my career on two NCAA visits. The girls that I am able to end my career with are the best group of girls that I could have asked for and for that, I'm so grateful. They're wonderful supporters so I think I'll have a really good exit.
What can we expect from the UH beach volleyball team in the future?
I see a lot of fire and passion in the younger girls that are coming in. I'm familiar with most of the recruits and I know that they're super passionate about the game. In the years that I have been here and even in the years before me, we have always been known as a cool and composed team. However, the newcomers are going to bring a whole new personality in a good way. They're passionate and they're hungry to win.
What does life after your time here at UH look like right now?
I'm still looking at another year of studying at Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. My concentration is mālama 'āina, so I focus on caring for the land, giving back to the land, studying the marine ecosystems. Here, I'm able to really get in touch with my Hawaiian spirituality and learn more about my family. I'm excited to strictly study at school because it's my passion but as of right now, I don't have any career plans. I'm just focusing on one step at a time and wherever life takes me, I will go.
What is the most important thing you have learned in your time here?
Sports and academics aside, the most important thing is making good relationships with people. I've learned to appreciate people and to do things that allow them to appreciate me. I have many positive relationships here as a result from the mutual love and respect that I have given and these relationships will be with me forever. I've really found my biggest supporters here at the University of Hawai'i and for that, I am so grateful.
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