The road trip started with a match in which outside hitter Marley Strand-Nicolaisen took 71 swings, and it ended with her adding 67 more.
All things being equal, those numbers were too high for UH-Hilo coach Tino Reyes’ liking. But all things aren’t equal for the Vulcans – at least not for now.
“I would love to reduce Marley’s hitting,” Reyes said, “but you have to look at what else we have.”
Help, however, could be on the way.
Reyes joked that he could use a sports psychologist to get insight into his team Saturday after the Vulcans (5-6, 3-3 Pacific West Conference) lost in five sets at Point Loma, completing a 1-3 road trip.
The Vulcans play their alumni match Friday night, and have a chance to make up ground with a big homestand this month. UH-Hilo plays all eight of its October matches at its gym, starting at 7 p.m. Monday against Chaminade.
The Vulcans, Reyes said, would work on serving and passing in the meantime.
“It’s an interesting group of kids to coach,” he said. “Our confidence is fleeting at times.
“I want them to be confident because they are doing their job, not just because they are ahead or winning.”
Oh, and about that help.
Reyes said 6-foot-3 outside Haylee Roberts, a transfer from Division I Fresno State, was granted her waiver by the NCAA and is now just waiting for her medical clearance to join the team. Roberts played in 14 matches for the Bulldogs in 2014, reaching double-digits in kills four times.
Reyes would love to have Roberts pick up some of the workload for Strand-Nicolaisen, who has reached double-digits in kills in all but one match this season on 594 hitting attempts. Siera Green is next on the Vulcans with 344 kills.
“If she’s medically cleared, she’s just what we need,” Reyes said.
Roberts is set to see a doctor Oct. 13.
