Volleyshots

Expanded coverage of all things volleyball, including notes, observations and analysis on the Rainbow Wahine, Rainbow Warriors, SandBows and Team USA.

About the blog host

Cindy Luis covers University of Hawaii volleyball for the Star-Advertiser. She began her career as a sports journalist in Hawaii in 1981 with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and was the sports editor, assistant sports editor, columnist and beat writer during a 31-year span before the paper became the Star-Advertiser. She graduated from UCLA in 1977 with a B.A. in Communication Studies.

Latest news

Hawaii volleyball: Mahalo and aloha

By Cindy Luis on March 25, 2020

The photo is from 1987 NCAA womens volleyball championship at Blaisdell With future UH broadcaster Tiff Wells It was the start of wonderful times sitting courtside together We have been the only mother-son combo in Sports media for over 10 years ******** Good morning all, Apologize for not putting up an earlier explanation of the blog going dark. I was on the mainland last week for my mother’s funeral and all the abnormalities that went along with trying to do […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: Rainbow Warriors return home, give season cancellation reactions

By Cindy Luis on March 13, 2020

The Warriors returned today. The “Aunties” met them at the airport so they had several lei for the bus ride back to campus. Think they’re still all in shock. Got to speak with the four seniors and Coach Wade. All very gracious in their interviews. Here are video interviews with the four seniors — Patrick Gasman, Rado Parapunov, Colton Cowell, and James Anastassiades — as well as Wade. The four players expressed varying degrees of openness to a return, depending on […]

Hawaii volleyball: NCAA cancels ALL spring championships

By Cindy Luis on March 12, 2020

Officially over Link to NCAA tournament cancellation announcement click here Volleyball season may be over for the Big West. Play is being suspended, not cancelled. Hopefully they can figure it out and still have a season. however Pac-12 has cancelled all spring competitions, which would affect the MPSF teams. Warriors are working on returning to Hawaii as soon as possible For announcement from UH click here For announcement from the Big West click here From Twitter regarding Pac-12 click here […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: Ivy League cancels volleyball season, COVID-19 updates

By Cindy Luis on March 11, 2020

The Ivy League today announced the cancellation of all spring sports practices and competition. This will affect EIVA members Harvard (3-4) and Princeton (7-2). Penn State (7-0) is leading the EIVA with Princeton second and George Mason third. In Big West volleyball: Penn State is at UC San Diego today. UCSD has announced they will allow fans to attend but reduced arena seating capacity (social distancing they call it) and extra hand sanitizers. CSUN: Classes cancelled but campus open. No […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: Potentially no fans allowed at CSUN matches, Pepperdine match moved to Monday

By Cindy Luis on March 10, 2020

Hawaii’s non-conference match at Pepperdine scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, has been moved to Monday, March 16. Domino effect of Harvard pulling out of its west coast trip. Concordia Irvine had contacted Hawaii about adding a match but Warriors have maxed out playing dates and won’t play a doubleheader. As for matches at CSUN Friday and Saturday, CSUN athletics will go with what their campus administration does. No decision at the moment No fans will be allowed at Big West […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: Potential schedule change on road next week

By Cindy Luis on March 9, 2020

Nothing official but Coach Charlie Wade said on his radio show that because Harvard has cancelled its spring trip to the west coast, teams who had scheduled the Crimson now looking for alternate opponents. Harvard was supposed to play at Pepperdine on Sunday and at Concordia Irvine next Monday. Hawaii is at Pepperdine on Tuesday. COI texted Wade to see if they could play Hawaii during the trip. Warriors have maxed out on playing dates but teams can play as […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: Rado Parapunov POW, Warriors down to No. 2, SandBows stay at 4 in AVCA polls

By Cindy Luis on March 9, 2020

Rado Parapunov was named Big West Player of the Week. Will add more after interview Hawaii MVB: Rado Parapunov latest Big West POW pic.twitter.com/nrLV1PjDkY — Cindy Luis (@Cindy3Luis) March 10, 2020 +++++ BYU replaced Hawaii at No. 1 in this week’s AVCA poll, receiving 15 of 16 first-place votes. Nos. 3-5 stay the same: UCSB, Long Beach State and Lewis. UC Irvine and UC San Diego tied for No. 6, again giving the Big West five of the top seven. […]

Hawaii men’s volleyball: Stijn van Tilburg UH’s BWC athlete of year

By Cindy Luis on March 8, 2020

Lost in the hoopla of BYU was this Former Warrior Stijn van Tilburg named the Hawaii’s Male Athlete of the Year for 2019 for the Big West. Female athlete is Petra Melounova from the Rainbow Wahine tennis team. Each school picks a top male and female athlete. The 18 will be honored Thursday at the Anaheim Marriott Suites Hotel. SVT was the Big West Conference Tournament MVP, leading the Rainbow Warriors to its first Big West Conference Tournament title and […]