Put away all pretense and put away all hyperbole, and, still, here we are.
Simply put: A volleyball weekend like none other in recent memory looms at UH-Hilo, a high-drama experience new to the Vuls, true freshmen and veterans alike.
“They are saying it’s the two Hawaii schools,” said opposite Alex Parisian, a member of the former group, “it’s such big deal, it’s the best of Hawaii.”
The Pacific West Conference ramifications extend to the mainland as well.
As if the Vulcans (11-3, 7-1 PacWest) needed any extra incentive to get ready before Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific shuffle in and out of town, they gathered en masse Wednesday after practice to cheer on Biola from afar as the Eagles tagged Azusa Pacific with its first conference loss, edging UHH a bit closer to first place.
The competitor in Parisian follows the classic one-game-at-a-time mantra, but the aspiring sports broadcaster in her said, “We were all super excited. It feels really nice to be in first.”
UHH coach Gene Krieger got 15 players into Monday night’s sweep against Holy Names, the Vuls’ ninth win in 10 matches, including Amber Tai, a sophomore hitter who returned from injury.
Krieger said he’s ready to tighten the rotation with the fourth-place Silverswords (12-3, 6-3) – who boast the conference’s top hitting percentage behind Emma Tecklenburg (3.60 kills per set) and Alana Handy (3.52) – on tap Saturday and the Sharks (5-10, 4-5) to follow Sunday for 7 p.m. matches.
“I’m a little paranoid about making changes when things are going pretty good,” he said.
Senior libero Mina Grant left the match against Holy Names with a shoulder injury, but Krieger said Grant “should be fine.”
The second-year coach hopes the home fans are ready to come out as well. Both Oahu schools have had the luxury of putting all their focus on UHH this week.
“We know it’s going to be one of the tougher Chaminade-Hilo battles for significance in many years,” Krieger said. “It’s fun to play for something, it’s fun for games to mean something, to the whole conference, not just us.”
The Vulcans will be halfway through conference play after the match with Hawaii Pacific, which – just like the Vuls – is coming in off wins against conference cellar dwellers Academy of Art and Holy Names. The Sharks are led by preseason all-PacWest pick Perla Escobar (2.90 kills per set, 2.55 digs).
If there was a singular snapshot that captured the Vulcans’ breakthrough season so far, it likely came Sept. 20 when UHH rushed the court following a five-set win at Biola after Parisian, a left-hander, put down consecutive kills to cap an 18-16 win in Game 5.
“It wasn’t like she patty-caked them, either,” Krieger said. “She made a definite statement.”
All in a day’s work for Parisian, who comes prepared and exudes California confidence. The native of Apple Valley, Calif., has already transformed herself from key reserve to first rotation player, averaging 2.47 kills per set, third-best on the team behind sophomore Bria Beale (2.69) and senior Evelin Solyomvari (2.61).
“One thing I try to focus on is when I come in I try to bring energy on the court,” Parisian said. “And building relationships with my teammates. In the end, that’s what leads to success, those relationships.
“You can have skill, but it’s really important to be positive and bring energy.”
For Beale and Parisian, former club teammates in Southern California, the synergy comes easy.
Nothing the Vulcans have accomplished this season surprised Parisian, and in turn nothing she has done has caught Beale off-guard.
“This is the Alex I know,” Beale said “She is ultra-competitive. When we played back in (Calif.), we bounced off each other really well.
“She’s willing to fight. Her character, let alone her physical play, bring so much to our team.”
Include recruiting on that ever-growing list.
When Beale decided to move on after one season at Division I UC Irvine and drew the interest of Krieger earlier this year, she contacted her friend, who had long since committed to becoming a Vul.
“I gave her some pointers, and a week later, she was like, “I’m going to be going to school with you,’” Parisian said.
Parisian, then a junior in high school, was one of Krieger’s first recruits shortly after he signed on as coach in March of 2017.
“Alex came to camp, it seemed like forever, from Sept. 2017 to Aug, 2018,” Krieger said. “Those 11 months took forever for her to get her.”
She’s here now – and so too is a big-match UHH environment, which is likely going to be around for a while.
About that looming marquee weekend.
There is another one coming up, with contenders Biola (Oct. 12) and Concordia (Oct. 14) wrapping up the sixth-match homestand.
But, Parisian preached, first things first. There are a pair of old-school Hawaii rivalries to get to.
“We’re not going to be complacent,” she said. “We have to finish because we have to play everybody in conference one more time, so we’re going to keep pushing.”
“We know when we have to get work done. We try to be serious and have fun while we’re doing it.”
