Coronado High alumna Rachel Purser is back in Las Vegas for the Lucky Aces Women’s Volleyball Invitational at the Orleans Arena, competing for the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine.
Purser, who finished her prep career as one of the program’s most dominant middle blockers, said she had little time to reminisce as the Rainbow Wahine face Texas A&M‑Corpus Christi, Iowa State and UCLA from Friday through Sunday.
“It was truthful surreal erstwhile the level was astir to land,” she said of her instrumentality location Thursday. “The level tilted, and I saw the Strip and thought, ‘Wow, I americium home.’”
The 6‑foot‑3‑inch freshman has tallied 48 kills, 25 blocks and three work aces this season, leading the team with a .328 hitting percentage. Coach Joshua Walker praised her approach.
“She benignant of conscionable goes with the flow,” Walker told Hawaii’s KHON2. “‘What you request maine to do, Coach?’ And past she conscionable tries it. You don’t cognize however important that is for growth.”
Purser recalled how the pandemic shifted her athletic path.
“I played hoops my full life,” said Purser, who has 4 brothers. “But each the courts got unopen down during COVID. All my brothers played volleyball, and determination was a tribunal adjacent our neighborhood. We played each day, and I fell successful emotion with the game.”
She joined a club team before playing for Coronado, where she helped the Cougars capture a 5A state title and three runner‑up finishes, amassing over 800 career kills and earning 2025 5A state tournament MVP honors.
Her return to Las Vegas evoked memories of her start.
“My proudest infinitesimal was elder night, looking astatine each my accomplishments,” Purser said. “I truly miss each my friends from the team, but I cognize immoderate of them are coming retired this play to spot maine play.”
Now focused on NCAA competition, Purser noted the adjustment to college volleyball.
“It’s precise antithetic from precocious school,” Purser said, noting that the level of play is beyond thing she knew existed. “In college, you truly person to effort to get better. No much dilly-dallying. You person to effort to beryllium your champion each day. But it’s bully having truly bully coaches. I perceive to what they say.”
She reflected on her high‑school self.
“I was precise goofy successful precocious school,” she said. “I look backmost astatine movie present and wonderment however I ever made it this far.”
Purser expressed appreciation for Hawaii’s storied tradition.
“My archetypal match, I conscionable looked up astatine that immense assemblage cheering for me,” she said. “This squad is nary joke.”
The Rainbow Wahine, who own four national championships and four runner‑up finishes in NCAA history, entered the weekend 6‑2 and sought to extend a five‑match winning streak. Tournament play opened Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Texas A&M‑Corpus Christi and concluded Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with a match versus UCLA.
Sincity Press Staff
3 hours ago 3 min read
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English (US)·