UH newcomer Ratkai ‘living the dream’ with Rainbow Wahine volleyball

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One of the playmakers to emerge for the University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team is newcomer Panna Ratkai.

Read more Hawaii police release body camera video of deadly Ocean View shooting

Ratkai is making the most of her first season with the Rainbow Wahine, recording a team-high 196 kills and 25 aces. Her offensive production ranks third in the Mountain West.

“It’s an amazing experience,” Ratkai said. “I’m living the dream over here.”

The senior’s performance on the Taraflex court has already made her a fan favorite.

“I am very appreciative of the fans and the people around here,” Ratkai said. “It’s definitely probably the best way I can think of to finish off my indoor career.”

Ratkai said she was taken aback by the amount of support she and her teammates receive in Mānoa and on the road.

“I’ve seen a poster with the Hungarian flag in the back of it and you know, it’s just a different feeling. Like I’m so far away from home and these fans still make me feel like I’m home,” Ratkai said. “I get goosebumps every time I look around and I see something like that.”

Ratkai refined her volleyball skills during her stops at Purdue Fort Wayne and Dayton — experiences that shaped her into the player fans see today.

Read more Polish national charged with unlawfully voting as an alien

“I could align with a lot of those physical aspects of volleyball and bring it here and apply it here,” Ratkai said. “So I just think we want to bring out the best that this team has.”

Ratkai also brings a veteran presence to the Rainbow Wahine, a leadership quality that’s helping some of the younger players.

“She just wants to make sure that she’s doing her job. She makes my job easier because she’s doing everything she can to be the best version of herself,” UH head coach Joshua Walker said. “That’s contagious for everybody on the team.”

Freshman Cameron Holcomb added, “Panna is so funny, I mean she always makes me laugh and she provides a very mature perspective to a lot of things I had questions about.”

Helping the underclassmen is part of Ratkai’s goal to help the Rainbow Wahine succeed — and she does it all with a smile.

Read more California shelter helps Kauai Humane Society amid Lowell recovery