Hawaii’s Miliana Sylvester set to begin college career

The University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team will begin its 2024 season on Friday night against SMU, moving on after saying goodbye to a special senior class in 2023 that included program legend Amber Igiede.

At middle blocker, where Igiede has been a program staple since 2019, the Rainbow Wahine will look to fill the role by committee. Among the names at the position is true freshman Miliana Sylvester, who makes the quick jaunt over from University Lab School.

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“It’s really just a dream come true to finally be here at the university, even just to be offered a scholarship,” she said. “Here was a dream come true. I never really took volleyball seriously until I knew that I wanted to come here. So, I’m really privileged to be here, and I’m super excited.”

Sylvester was born in Honolulu and adopted at age 7. She is the third oldest among 11 siblings. She played her first three years of high school volleyball at Central High School in Missouri, earning All-Ozark Conference honors three times.

Sylvester moved back to the islands for her senior year of high school, earning ILH Division II Player of the Year. At UH, she’s living a childhood dream and hoping to make an immediate impact for the team she grew up watching.

“I’ve really focused in on just how this team works and all of the procedures and just the way that the older girls have set it up for us and the way that Coach Rob has set it up for us. I’m really excited for the challenge,” she said. “I’m really excited and I’m really thankful that I’m in this position.”