Latest news with #Iolani
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two with Hawaii ties selected to USA Women's VNL Week one Roster
The 2025 Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) roster was announced for USA Volleyball on Friday. The roster with 14 players who will head to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in early June to compete against 17 of the worlds top teams. Former Rainbow Wahine, Amber Igiede and 'Iolani Alum Saige Ka'aha'aina-Torres were named to the roster. Ka'aha'aina-Torres is 1 of 2 setters on the team and will be making her first appearance in her career for the USA in the VNL. Igiede is also making her 1st career appearance on the USA Volleyball squad in the VNL and she is 1 of 4 Middle Blockers on the roster. The USA Women's team are currently ranked no.3 in the world and just recently won the silver medal in the Olympics. This team has won the VNL 3 times since it began in 2018, with their last win coming in 2021. Igiede and Ka'aha'aina-Torres will look to help continue this success as they will head with the team to Brazil from June 4th-8th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McEnroe-Marinas captains Oklahoma into NCAA Tournament
The road to Oklahoma City and the NCAA Softball Championship officially begins this week, and the Aloha State will be well represented. Nine players from Hawaii high schools across eight collegiate programs are set to compete in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament. Among them, two standouts Maryknoll graduate Nelly McEnroe-Marinas and 'Iolani alum Ailana Agbayani are suiting up for top-ranked Oklahoma, the four-time defending national champions. Oklahoma is the only school in the tournament featuring multiple players from Hawaii. And for McEnroe-Marinas, her redshirt freshman campaign has been nothing short of remarkable. After bouncing back from injury, she was named a team captain, an uncommon honor for an underclassman. She enters the postseason batting .345 with 14 home runs. 'It's a blessing,' McEnroe-Marinas said. 'I'm just so grateful for all the things that I went through and all the things that I've learned from the past captains. Just being able to soak all of that in is a huge honor. But definitely with this team, I'm not doing anything alone.' Asked how her upbringing helped shape her leadership style, McEnroe-Marinas credited her island roots. 'The Hawaiian culture is unmatched. I think it's a big reason why I got picked to be a captain in the first place,' she said. 'Being able to grow up in that environment and bring that environment here to Oklahoma and spread the aloha. It's just amazing.' Agbayani, a junior transfer from BYU, has made an immediate impact, batting .331 with 31 RBIs this season. Together, the duo brings island flair and culture to Norman, something McEnroe-Marinas says their teammates appreciate. 'In our BP sessions, we're the only ones vibing out to reggae,' she joked. 'I love having Ailana on this team. We never had the opportunity to be teammates growing up, and now we do, it's insane.' In addition to the Sooners' duo, seven more Hawaii high school graduates are featured on tournament rosters: 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament – Hawaii High School Graduates • Oregon: Braiesey Rosa (Waianae) – Sophomore Catcher • San Diego State: Quinn Waiki (Campbell) – Freshman Infielder • Arizona: Jenna Sniffen (Maryknoll) – Freshman Infielder • Santa Clara: Cairah Curran (Campbell) – Sophomore IF/OF • Grand Canyon: Lovey Kepa'a (Leilehua) – Senior Infielder • Georgia: Mua Williams (Kamehameha) – Freshman Utility • Howard: Kenna Higa (Kamehameha) – Senior 1B/3B • Oklahoma: Nelly McEnroe-Marinas (Maryknoll) – Freshman Infielder Ailana Agbayani ('Iolani) – Junior Second Baseman Top-seeded Oklahoma opens tournament play on Friday against Boston. For a look at the complete bracket and schedule, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
