HONOLULU—University of Hawai'i women's volleyball head coach Robyn Ah Mow announced the signing of five players for the 2024 Fall season—Adrianna Arquette (Kailua, O'ahu), Victoria Leyva (El Paso, Texas) Malinah Purcell-Telefoni (Kapolei, O'ahu), Miliana Sylvester (Honolulu, O'ahu) and Madeline Way (Santa Clarita, Calif.). This is Ah Mow's largest class of incoming freshmen—which includes three local products.
 
"We could not be more excited for this group of young women to join our Rainbow Wahine 'ohana," says Ah Mow.  "Each of these student-athletes embodies the type of people we want to represent our program, University and state. Collectively, they are a hard working, determined and athletic bunch of individuals who will raise the bar in our gym the moment they step on campus in Manoa."
 
Leyva is a polished 5-8 libero who also played at outside hitter at Pebble Hills High School in El Paso, Texas. The natural leader is quick and reads the game very well. In her junior year, she had already accumulated 1,331 digs, 72 service aces and 164 kills. Leyva graduated early and is currently enrolled at UH and will train with the Rainbow Wahine this Spring.
 
Way is a versatile 6-1 middle blocker from Santa Clarita, Calif.. She is quick, explosive and plays with fiery competitiveness. This past season, she helped lead Sierra Canyon High School to the Open Division state regional playoffs. Last year she led the Trailblazers to the SS Division I title. In 2023, her club team finished in the Top 15 in the USAV girls junior national championships in 17-Open.
 
Arquette was the definition of being a utility player at Kamehameha Schools—Kapālama, where she helped lead the Warriors to the state championship this past Fall. The multi-dimensional Arquette played six rotations as both a middle blocker and at opposite, but her true position is at setter. She is a smooth, versatile setter with a high volleyball IQ. She is calm and confident and is an intense competitor on the court. Arquette was recently named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year to round out her numerous accolades for her senior season. She was named to the 2023 AVCA High School All-America Second Team, was voted league and state Player of the Year, and she earned the DI state tournament's Most Valuable Player award.
 
Purcell-Telefoni is a 6-1 opposite out of Kapolei High School. She is a strong, physical player with a heavy arm and a lot of potential. Prior to moving to Hawai'i, Purcell-Telefoni was a co-captain for the Samoana High School volleyball team in America Samoa. She helped lead the Sharks to championship titles while earning a pair of Most Valuable Player awards to go with several other accolades. Athletics in in her genes as her mother, Meleisha Purcell is a volleyball coach in America Samoa and her uncle is former UH football standout, defensive end Melila Purcell.
 
Sylvester will cross University Avenue to attend college at UH Manoa. The University Laboratory School student-athlete is athletic and long with a high ceiling and a fierce competitive nature. She concluded her standout senior season by leading the Junior 'Bows to the DII state championship match in which she was unstoppable, putting down 25 kills on 49 swings for a .388 hitting percentage to go with 4.5 blocks and three digs. For her efforts, she was voted to the state's all-tournament team and was tabbed the league's DII Player of the Year.
 
All three local signees were named to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's Fab 15, with Arquette leading all at No. 1, Purcell-Telefoni at No. 10, and Sylvester at No. 12.
 
2024 Signees
Adrianna Arquette – 6-0, Setter, Kailua, O'ahu, Kamehameha Schools—Kapālama
Victoria Leyva – 5-8, Libero/Defensive Specialist, El Paso, Texas, Pebble Hills HS
Malinah Purcell-Telefoni – 6-1, Opposite, Kapolei, O'ahu, Kapolei HS
Miliana Sylvester, 6-2, Middle Blocker, Honolulu, O'ahu, University Laboratory School
Madeline Way, 6-1, Middle Blocker, Santa Clarita, Calif., Sierra Canyon HS