The Tiger Volleyball program kicks off its 2013 campaign this week at the Hawaii Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii. Stay tuned throughout the week for daily updates from the team, starting Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Wednesday, Sept. 11 - written by Cloie Cox, freshman, Defensive Specialist
Ahhh… The team's last day on the island of Oahu. It's a bittersweet moment as we board the bus for the last time and head to the airport where we depart to go back home; back to the reality of things.
The team woke up early to climb Diamondhead, a huge crater that overlooks the ocean this morning. Diamondhead earned its name when the early settlers and missionaries found rock crystals on the face of the crater that they mistook for diamonds, ergo the name Diamondhead. The steep hike fluctuates from a cement sidewalk to a rocky pathway, to steep stairs that lead hikers to various ways up the side of the crater to overlook Waikiki and Honolulu. Let me tell you it was GORGEOUS. Aside from the brief 18 minute workout going up the crater wall, the time it took to take in the scenery of the ocean, city life and sky was limitless; it was breathtaking. We took one of our last team photos here for the trip. As we walked back down hungry and tired we reminisced on days that had passed, and dreaded the thought of the ride home to get back to the routine of things. We hustled back to the hotel to pack bags and switch rooms. Between 25 girls (not including coaches and parents) we had four rooms to shower and get ready in after our adventures out on the beach. You can all only imagine how hectic that was.
Each player packed up all her belongings, giddy and excited for a day on the beach. We ate our last breakfast at the Seaside Café and headed to the beach. A handful of girls tried body surfing and boogie boarding; some tanned and got smoothies. It was a great relaxing day full of sun (way too much sun for some) to close up our stay here in Hawaii. We finished everything up with a delicious supper at A Cheeseburger in Paradise right off the beach. As we waited for our plane, I couldn't help but to think of our next practice to prepare for our match against Kearney. Although it is bittersweet to leave the beautiful island of Hawaii, I can speak for us all by saying we are nothing short of ready to bring it come Tuesday.
I want to thank everyone for the support of tuning in and following us here in Hawaii. Mahalo!
Tuesday, Sept. 10 - written by Makenzie Weinman, senior, Libero
Aloha from Hawaii!
We are sitting in the airport right now waiting to fly out of Hilo and head back to O'ahu. This morning we woke up and had an all you can eat breakfast on a beautiful balcony next to the ocean, with the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Departure time from the hotel wasn't until 10:45, so naturally all of the girls wanted to test out the waters before we left Hilo. The water was so clear you could see all kinds of fish, crabs, and other sea creatures (no sharks, thank goodness!) Everyone enjoyed the refreshing swim and the UV rays beating down!
After we arrived back to Waikiki (on O'ahu), we all rushed to see who could get their toes in the sand first. Surfing boards surrounding a small entryway welcomed us right onto the beach after walking only a couple blocks from our hotel. The beach, breathtaking and beautiful, met all of our expectations and more. All of the girls swam out to sea; however, the strong waves and tides didn't keep us out there long.
Shortly after a perfect day at the beach, we had reservations at an all-you-can-eat buffet called Makimeeta. It was a Polynesian buffet and had a wide variety of seafood, fruit and dessert accompanied with Polynesian fire and hula dancers. Some of us tried octopus and sushi for the first time! This evening we were free to do whatever we wanted to do before our evening team meeting and lights out. Today was a relaxing day and tomorrow we will be waking up bright and early to hike Diamond Head!
It's our seventh day staying here and we have learned that Hawaii isn't just a large beautiful island. It's an island filled with generous carefree people, living volcanoes, and treasured historical sites. Now that we have finished all of our games we are taking in all the relaxation Hawaii has to offer.
Thank you to all who are following us on this trip back home. A special thanks to Dr. Hammond and Mr. Hammeke for allowing us to experience this once in a lifetime experience with our FHSU Ohana (family.) These memories and newly built friendships will last forever. Thanks again Tiger fans!
Monday, Sept. 9 - written by Madison Schwartz, senior, Outside Hitter
We started the day off early at 5:30 a.m. with a short plane ride to "The Big Island" across the pacific waters to the largest island in Hawaii. We took a few interesting stops along the way with our personable tour guide "Uncle Junior". First we visited the volcanoes national park where we enjoyed the scenery of an active volcano. We were fortunate enough to see the sulfur and ash rising from a crater formed by Kilauea. We enjoyed spending time in the Jagger museum exploring the past and learning about the different types of lava. To finish off this stop we rummaged through the gift shop, picking out souvenirs for our friends and family.
Shortly after the gift shop we got to get out of the bus to stretch our legs in a lava field. The lava was cooled, hardened, and very rough. We had to use all of our athletic ability to seem graceful running around on this jagged land. After boarding the bus we did a quick sweep making sure no one took any lava rocks from the field as this is bad luck. According to the locals removing rock from this sacred ground entitles you to bad luck. Hundreds of rocks are mailed back to the national park each year from non superstitious tourists. Next on the to do list was my personal favorite the Lava Tube. We adventured through the rain forest and found ourselves in a dark cave. This very large structure was made from lava cooling, hardening, and more (new) lava flowing over the top of it.
From mountain tops, to the beach fronts, through the lava fields, I can officially say this trip has been a dream come true. Although it didn't end the way we wanted this trip has enlightened us and provided us with more opportunities than I could have ever asked for. I am very proud to be a Fort Hays State Tiger and I am looking forward to an amazing senior year with my volleyball Ohana (family).
Sunday, Sept. 8 – written by Jenna Ulrich, senior, Middle Hitter
Aloha! Today we had a chance to give our bodies a break from the four games in three days stretch we just endured. We started our day with the same breakfast we ate from yesterday, which was just as good the second time around. As soon as breakfast concluded, we loaded up the bus and "Uncle Robert" took us to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace, just 20 minutes from our hotel on Waikiki beach. Once there, we were hosted by over 400 local merchants offering their imported products, handmade items, crafted art pieces, popular local snack favorites, and anything else native to Hawaii. Since we are a bunch of girls and all love to shop, this was finally our chance to get some gifts and souvenirs for almost half the cost of what we could find them for anywhere else in O'ahu.
After we had our shopping fix, we made our way back to the hotel and had a little time to work on homework or whatever else we had to do to get ready for our evening at Chief's Luau. On the way to the luau, we stopped to have some sight-seeing and picture time at: Hanauma Bay (known for its snorkeling attraction, fish and marine life, as well as being the host site for a month long filming scene of Pirates of the Caribbean) and Blowhole Bay (known for its volcanic cragginess and geysers that can shoot up to 30 feet at any given moment.)
Around 5 p.m., we arrived at Chief's Luau at Sea Life Park, where, upon entering, we were greeted with lei's made out of tiny sea shells. Before the show began, we found seats and had the opportunity to make fire by hand, throw spears (don't worry, just wood-tipped ones!) and learn hula dancing. In addition, some of us got henna tattoos (temporary ones). After a delicious Hawaiian barbeque, the show started.
One of the best things about the luau was how involved Chief Sielu kept the audience. Not only did we get to watch and enjoy hula dancing, warrior dancing, fire twirling, and Polynesian drummers; almost our entire entourage had the chance to make their way to the stage. Coach Kohler was the start to our involvement by being crowned one of five new "chief leaders" and performing a short ceremonial dance. Next, our entire volleyball team found ourselves on stage having a chance to show off any new moves we learned from earlier in the evening. Later in the evening, our athletic trainer, Zathan Bark, was selected to be the lone man in a "had to be there to understand it, but rolling in your chair laughing" dance experience. And finally one of our player's parents that joined us on the trip ended up on stage for an "under the stars" anniversary dance.
Needless to say, we had unforgettable day of important off the court team bonding and a once in a lifetime experience with each other. Tomorrow we will travel to Hilo, Hawaii, for our fifth and final match played here in Hawaii. We play Hawaii-Hilo at 7 p.m. HT (Midnight CT). Fans can turn in with live stats here, and live audio here. We will have live Twitter updates as well (@fhsuathletics)
I want to give another thanks to Dr. Hammond and Mr. Hammeke for allowing our team this opportunity. It has been an amazing experience and a great look at competition on this side of the country. Also, thanks to all of our fans for tuning in and for all of your support.
Saturday, Sept. 7 – written by Camille Hubert, redshirt junior, Outside Hitter
Aloha!!!! Today was a day strictly for volleyball. We woke up bright and early to walk as a team to a small breakfast diner. For $3.95 a plate we received two pancakes, eggs, and bacon. It was a hole in the wall diner but had delicious food! After breakfast we began to focus on the upcoming match that was played at noon, Hawaiian time. We fought hard with some ups and downs throughout the game but couldn't get the job finished. We ended up losing in four sets to Lewis College which is located in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.
After a little lunch, "Uncle Robert" (our bus driver) took us back to the gym for our second and final match of the day. With a very hot and sticky atmosphere we began warm ups. Shortly after taking the court, with every door wide open in the gym we had ourselves a surprise visitor. A pigeon decided to join us for the match flying aimlessly around the arena. Another hard fought battle against Hawaii Pacific University ended with a loss in three sets.
Coming together after the game, we talked about our strengths and weaknesses. We have come a long way as a team since our first match on Thursday. There are areas for improvement and there are areas that we excel in. Our team as grown tremendously on and off the court. The matches have been fun and exciting to participate in, usually close in score. The crowds are very enthusiastic, cheering extremely loud, including our own Tiger fans!
Mahalo (Thank you) for tuning in and keeping up with us this week! We appreciate each and every one of you and especially Dr. Hammond and Mr. Hammeke for making this opportunity happen. Tomorrow we have a very eventful day that ends with a luau! There is no match tomorrow but stay tuned as we have one more match on Monday in Hilo.
Sept. 5, 2013 - written by Sara Hewson, junior, Outside Hitter
Aloha from Hawaii, it was a beautiful day today here in Waikiki. Today we had a packed schedule of touring the island, allowing us to get a taste of what this beautiful place has to offer. Our match last night against BYU Hawaii, the No. 5 team in the nation, was not until 7:30 local so we had the opportunity to participate in various tours and make the most of our day.
First stop was the Dole plantation. Out front were painted Eucalyptus Trees that had stripes of blue, pink, green, and yellow color, they are so unique that it took some convincing for me to believe that they are all natural. As we moved into the plantation we were greeted with the smell of blossoming pineapple, better known in Hawaii as, Hala-kahiki. In two different groups we were taken around the plantation in a little train that gave you an audio description of all the different crops, fruits, teas, and landmarks. Before we left, everyone purchased some "Hala kahiki" (or pineapple) ice cream or coffee, and it all tasted amazing!
As we moved through the Island we decided to try some Authentic Hawaiian food at a small place named L&L's. Seemed as if everyone ate up quickly and then enjoyed some shopping in the local stores. Our bus driver, "Uncle Robert," loaded us all up and started taking us through other parts of the Island, parts that were more secluded and full of lush greenery.
Eventually we made it to the beach, which was no doubt everyone's favorite part. Pictures were being snapped left and right and there was not one person who did not have a glowing smile on their face. Before we stepped off the bus I already had my shoes off ready to go seep my toes into the sand. The water was beautiful shades of blue and so clear that you could spot giant sea-turtles. Our dinner was catered to us and we were able to eat right there by the water. It was a perfect place to get focused for our match and enjoy the Waikiki weather!
We were not able to pull out a win against BYU but we played the team tough. Luckily we have two matches tomorrow that we can come out strong and succeed in! There won't be any live stats at the afternoon match with Lewis (Noon HT/5 p.m. CT), but everyone can follow along on Twitter through @fhsuathletics. Live stats won't be available for tonight's matchup against Hawaii Pacific either (6 p.m. HT/11 p.m. CT), but if you want to purchase a viewing subscription, live video is available using the link below. If not, updates will be on Twitter again!
http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/hpuseawarriors.portal#
Go Tigers!
Sept. 4, 2013 - written by Samantha Ledy, Junior, Middle Hitter
Quick Note: For those of you who do not know, there is a five hour time change from Kansas to Hawaii. So although it was only 2:30 p.m. upon arrival in Honolulu, most of our body's felt as if it was 7:30 p.m.
The team arrived on the Hawaiian island of O'ahu around 2:30 p.m. We were kindly greeted by the gift of lei's. Although these were not ordinary flower lei's, they were beads. Later we found out that these beads are called KuKui nuts. Back in the day, these KuKui nuts were a sign of royalty. We all felt like princesses for the evening.
After checking in to our hotel and settling in, the team had dinner at Hard Rock Café where we were sang to by a live band. I don't know about the rest of the team but by the time we had finished eating around 7 p.m., I was ready for bed and called it an early night.
The next day, our first full day in Hawaii, the team got the opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor. We had an amazing tour guide who was full of lots of information, a complete history buff. We got the full story of the tragedy that happened on December 7, 1941. The USS Arizona was one of many battle ships that sunk that day at Pearl Harbor, and there is a memorial above the sunken ship that we got to tour. To this day, tourist can still see oil leaking from the ship. Also, while visiting Pearl Harbor, the team got to meet one of the very few survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor that is still alive, and got the liberty of taking a picture with this heroic man.
After our visit to Pearl Harbor, our tour guide drove us to Punch Bowl Veteran Memorial, which for those of you who do not know is the cemetery for the war veterans. For the last activity of the afternoon before preparing for our match later that night, we drove by the only royal palace on United States territory.
After a great day of sight-seeing, it was finally game time for us, and we were ready to start of the season strong. The first match of the year was against Chaminade. We started off strong, winning the first game, 28-26, but couldn't quite get the job done in a competitive match. Tonight the team learned a lot, we are ready to take what we've learned and use that to take on BYU of Hawaii tomorrow night. As a reminder, while we play at 7:30 p.m. local time, that will be at 12:30 a.m. in Kansas.
Thanks to all our friends and family who made the trip, and those who are supporting us back home. Stay tuned to @FHSUAthletics on Twitter, and follow our blog posts. We aren't sure if live stats will be available yet, but fans can get up-to-the-minute updates via Twitter.
Sept. 3, 2013
Early morning for the team, as we headed for the Denver airport at 5 a.m. Team took off at 7:50 a.m., and landed around 2 p.m., local time. We grabbed dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in Waikiki, and turned in for an early night. Tomorrow we are touring Pearl Harbor and Honolulu before taking on Chaminade at 7 p.m. local (or midnight for those back in Hays!).
Live information for the Chaminade game can be found here: Stats | Audio
FHSU Athletics will be tweeting live from the game - follow along with @FHSUAthletics on Twitter.
