She pops in and out of UH-Hilo volleyball coach Gene Krieger’s office with a purpose, grabbing what she needs and then she’s on the go.
She’s here for business, not to play, but Tai Manu-Olevao looks plenty young and fit enough to be a Vulcan.
If only.
The hell week that marks the beginning of training camp hadn’t even begun, and UHH’s newest assistant was easy to pick out. The 6-foot Manu-Olevao was the one rising, firing and pummeling balls that move with a little more pace and electricity than others. Krieger, though, didn’t bring the former UH Wahine all-star on to take advantage of the her skill-set as much as he did so she can spread her Division I mindset.
“She knows what it takes to be successful at the highest level,” he said. “A lot of the girls that have been here, they don’t know. They don’t know, what they don’t know.
“There are three of us now that know that.”
He includes himself and sophomore outside hitter Bria Beale, a transfer from UC Irvine in the trifecta.
“It’s not just me trying to preach to a bunch of players who have never experienced that before,” Krieger said.
It’s a fine line down in Division II.
Off the court, Krieger doesn’t want his players to feel like they are part of a Division I program that demands they focus solely on volleyball and competing for championships.
On the court, it’s a different story.
“Tai’s been there and done that,” Krieger said. “She knows the intensity level, the effort level, what playing level we need to be at. This is how we should act this is how we should be training.”
The need for knowhow and veteran savvy is even greater since the Vulcans (1-1) are relying on at least three freshmen, hitters Teisa Tuioti and Alexandria Parisian and setter Maile Powell, in their rotation. UHH plays its first road matches with four contests spread between Friday and Saturday at the D2 West Region Showcase in San Francisco.
Manu-Olevao is familiar with juggling early season tournaments and dealing with the riggers of the road.
“As I shared with the team during hell week, I feel I can bring my love and passion for the game to them,” Manu-Olevao said. “I was blessed to play with great team players and under coaches with so much experience with this game so I can only hope that with my track record, I can do the same.”
With two pro seasons under her belt, she’s come home and is working with her sister, fellow assistant Poli Olevao Kahapea.
She’s unsure if this coaching thing is going to stick.
“Being a coach sometimes makes me antsy to be a player again.” she said. “Coaching is a different ball game. This might be cliché but it rings true. I’m learning so much more while I coach than I would as a player. One of my favorite coaches once told me that ‘if you wanna become a better player, coach.’ You learn to see the game in a different way.”
After leaving the Rainbow Wahine in 2015 as a two-time all-Big West Conference first-team selection, Manu-Olevao went abroad. She spent one season apiece in the Philippines and Switzerland playing professionally.
“Nothing short of an adventure,” she said. “New people, new towns, new food. I was always in for a surprise and it was refreshing. But I appreciated that volleyball was still the same: bump, set, hit. Granted they had their own styles. It was a humbling experience because being homesick can really take its toll.”
Born in Hilo, Manu-Olevao went to Punahou Schools on Oahu before starting three seasons at Manoa while soaking up knowledge from legendary Wahine coach Dave Shoji.
Beyond wisdom, Manu-Olevao credits Shoji and then-assistant Robyn Ah-Mow Santos, now UH’s coach, for how they shaped players’ lives. Manu-Olevao also credits the late Zelda Kelson, who founded Cuzins volleyball club, as a mentor.
“Just the rich history that is UH Manoa’s women’s volleyball program and knowing that I come from that is so humbling and a blessing in itself,” Manu-Olevao said. “ We weren’t short on role models at Manoa.”
With a little luck, the Vulcans will have gained one as well.
D2 West Region Showcase
At San Francisco State
Friday
UH Hilo (1-1) vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-2), 7:45 a.m.
UH Hilo vs. St. Martin’s (0-2), 4:45 p.m.
Saturday
UH Hilo vs. San Francisco State (3-0), 7:45 a.m.
UH Hilo vs. Montana State Billings (4-0), 12:15 p.m.