Alohi Robins-Hardy

{{short description|Filipino American volleyball player (born 1995)}}

{{Infobox volleyball player

| name = Alohi Robins-Hardy

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Taira Ke'Alohilani Robins-Hardy

| nickname = Alohi

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|11|30|mf=y}}

| hometown = Waimānalo, Hawaii, U.S.

| nationality = United States{{efn|Sporting nationality – not to be confused with citizenship status. Robins-Hardy is affiliated with USA Volleyball as per the FIVB Player Database.{{cite web |title=Players' Database - Taira Robins-Hardy |url=https://www.fivb.com/players/players-database/player/170843 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Volleyball |access-date=27 May 2025}} However she was able to play for the Philippine national team in the first leg of the 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix.}}

| height = 6 ft 3 in

| weight = {{cvt|80|kg|order=flip}}

| spike = {{cvt|300|cm|order=flip}}

| block = {{cvt|295|cm|order=flip}}

| position = Assistant coach

| college = Brigham Young University {{nowrap|(2014–2018)}}

| currentclub = Farm Fresh Foxies

| currentnumber=

| years1 = –

| team1 = ŽOK Spartak Subotica

| years2 = 2019

| team2 = United VC

| years3 = 2019–2020

| team3 = Cignal HD Spikers

| years4 = 2022–2023

| team4 = {{abbr|TFOC|Terville Florange Olympique Club}}

| years5 = 2023–2024

| team5 = VK Dukla Liberec

| years6 = 2025–present

| team6 = Farm Fresh Foxies

| years7 =

| team7 =

| nationalyears = 2019

| nationalteam = Philippines

| medaltemplates-title = Medal record

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{PHI}} }}

}}

Taira Ke'Alohilani Robins-Hardy{{cite web |title=Extraliga ženy Liberec |url=https://www.pvk-olymp.cz/c/extraliga-zeny-liberec-olymp-261 |website=PVK Olymp Prague |publisher=Police Volleyball Club Olymp Prague |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=cs}} (born November 30, 1995{{cite web |title=Equipe professionnelle du TFOC Volley Equipe Pro & CFC (2022-2023) |url=https://tfocvolley.fr/equipe-pro-cfc-equipe-professionnelle-du-tfoc-volley |website=Terville Florange Olympique Club|access-date=27 May 2025 |language=fr-FR}}) is a professional Filipino American volleyball player. She is currently a member of the Philippines women's volleyball team and part of the Farm Fresh Foxies of the Premier Volleyball League, although she is not eligible to play for them in official league matches.

Career

=College=

Robins-Hardy played for the BYU Cougars women's volleyball team from 2014 to 2018.{{cite news |last1=Trimbour |first1=Vincent |title=Volley. Ligue A féminine : Alohi Robins-Hardy, le pari hawaïen du Tfoc |url=https://www.republicain-lorrain.fr/sport/2022/10/07/alohi-robins-hardy-le-pari-hawaien-du-tfoc |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=Le Républicain Lorrain |date=7 October 2022 |language=FR-fr}}

=Club=

==ŽOK Spartak Subotica==

Robins-Hardy played for ŽOK Spartak Subotica in the Serbian Super League.{{cite web |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/02/02/1890284/united-volleyball-club-signs-fil-hawaiian-setter-psl-bid |title=United Volleyball Club signs Fil-Hawaiian setter for PSL bid}} She played for two seasons.

==United VC==

In early 2019, United Volleyball Club of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) has signed Robins-Hardy. She was convinced to join the club to increase her chances of being selected for the Philippine national team. Under head coach Joshua Ylaya and Tina Salak, she played for one tournament with United; the 2019 PSL Grand Prix Conference.{{cite web |first=John Mark |last=Garcia |url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/pvl/alohi-robins-hardy-to-make-pvl-debut-with-farm-fresh-a5172-20241022 |title=Alohi Robins-Hardy to make PVL debut with Farm Fresh |date=October 22, 2024 |website=Spin.ph |access-date=October 22, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/03/20/1903071/tina-salak-credited-uvcs-alohi-robins-hardys-rise |title=Tina Salak credited for UVC's Alohi Robins-Hardy's rise |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327215632/https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/03/20/1903071/tina-salak-credited-uvcs-alohi-robins-hardys-rise |url-status=live }}

==Cignal HD Spikers==

Robins-Hardy finished the rest of the 2019 PSL season with the Cignal HD Spikers. Her team finished second at the 2019 All-Filipino Conference where she was also named as Best Setter. Cignal finished third in the 2019 Invitational.{{cite web |first=Ohmer |last=Bautista |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/alohi-robins-hardy-says-best-setter-plum-testament-cignal-greatness/ |title=Alohi Robins-Hardy says Best Setter plum a testament to Cignal greatness |date=August 29, 2019 |website=Tiebreaker Times}}{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/super-liga/cignal-hoping-to-find-rhythm-ahead-of-psl-season-as-it-sees-action-in-taal-charity-meet-a2522-20200203 |title=Cignal eager to find rhythm ahead of PSL season as it sees action in Taal charity meet |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415152729/https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/super-liga/cignal-hoping-to-find-rhythm-ahead-of-psl-season-as-it-sees-action-in-taal-charity-meet-a2522-20200203 |url-status=live }} The league was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Robins-Hardy announcing she would not suit up in the 2021 PVL season.{{cite news |last1=Demigillo |first1=Kiko |title=PVL: Alohi Robins-Hardy signs with Farm Fresh to mark PH return after 3 years |url=https://www.onesports.ph/pvl/article/25690/pvl-alohi-robins-hardy-signs-with-farm-fresh-to-mark-ph-return-after-3-years |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=OneSports.ph |date=22 October 2024 |language=en}} Her issues in obtaining a Philippine passport was also among the reasons for her departure.{{cite news |title=Robins-Hardy bares lack of PH passport led to non-inclusion in Cignal |url=https://www.pvl.ph/news/robins-hardy-bares-lack-of-ph-passport-led-to-non-inclusion-in-cignal |access-date=27 May 2025 |publisher=Premier Volleyball League |language=en}}

==TFOC==

After leaving Cignal and the Philippines, Robins-Hardy was signed by French club Terville Florange Olympique Club (TFOC) in 2022 despite having not played competitive volleyball in the past two years.{{cite news |last1=Besa |first1=Morgan |title=Ligue A féminine: Terville-Florange, l'heure de la structuration pour un Petit Poucet ambitieux |trans-title=Women's League A: Terville-Florange, time for an ambitious restructuring|url=https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/volley/ligue-a-feminine-terville-florange-l-heure-de-la-structuration-pour-un-petit-poucet-ambitieux_AV-202210210328.html |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=RMC Sport |date=21 October 2022 |language=fr}} She also played for the club in the CEV Women's Challenge Cup in 2023.{{cite web |title=Alohi ROBINS-HARDY |url=https://www.cev.eu/team/12838-terville-florange/player/94018-robins-hardy-alohi |publisher=European Volleyball Confederation |access-date=27 May 2025}}

==VK Dukla Liberec==

Robins-Hardy played in the Czech Republic, joining VK Dukla Liberec in June 2023.{{cite news |last1=Fajardo |first1=Chester |title=Former Cignal setter Alohi Robins-Hardy to play in Czech Republic |url=https://www.onesports.ph/pvl/article/12683/former-cignal-setter-alohi-robins-hardy-to-play-in-czech-republic |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=OneSports.ph |date=13 June 2023 |language=en}}

==Farm Fresh Foxies==

In October 2024, the Farm Fresh Foxies of the Premier Volleyball League has signed in Robins-Hardy. However she is unable to play in official league matches due to player eligibility issues.{{cite news |last1=Dannug |first1=Jonash |title=Alohi Robins-Hardy finds 'home' with Farm Fresh |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/alohi-robins-hardy-finds-home-with-farm-fresh/318911 |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=7 November 2024}} She had to sit out the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference. She is not considered a free agent and thus cannot play for any team in the tournament.{{cite news |last1=Dukha |first1=Angel III |title=Verdict is out: Robins-Hardy not a free agent |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/592547/verdict-is-out-robins-hardy-not-a-free-agent |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=5 November 2024 |language=en}}

As someone who has not played a game in the PVL since 2021 she will have to undergo the 2025 draft to be able to formally play for a PVL team.{{cite news |title=PVL maintains Alohi Robins-Hardy has to go through draft |url=https://www.onesports.ph/pvl/article/26125/pvl-maintains-alohi-robins-hardy-has-to-go-through-draft |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=OneSports.ph |language=en}} Meanwhile, she remained active with the team under the capacity of assistant coach with Farm Fresh, and the UP Fighting Maroons which like the PVL team is also backed by Strong Group Athletics.{{cite news |last1=Dannug |first1=Jonash |title=Sherwin Malonzo warns Farm Fresh: ‘It’s a risk not to draft Alohi at No. 3’ |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/sherwin-malonzo-warns-farm-fresh-its-a-risk-not-to-draft-alohi-at-no-3/339151 |access-date=4 June 2025 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=3 June 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Dannug |first1=Jonash |title=Alohi Robins-Hardy joins UP as assistant coach |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/alohi-robins-hardy-joins-up-as-assistant-coach/320445 |access-date=4 June 2025 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=20 November 2024}}

Skipping the draft combine due to personal matters in the United States, Robins-Hardy expressed commitment to play for Farm Fresh and vows to leave the Philippines if another team picks her in the draft.{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=John Mark |title=Alohi vows to go home if a PVL team other than Farm Fresh drafts her |url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/pvl/alohi-robins-hardy-says-leaving-if-not-drafted-by-farm-fresh-a5172-20250602 |access-date=4 June 2025 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=3 June 2025 |language=en}} She was warned by the PVL that she "cannot choose teams" and that sanctions may be imposed if it happens.{{cite news |last1=Villar |first1=Joey |title='You can’t choose a team,' PVL warns draft candidate Robins-Hardy |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2025/06/03/2447911/you-cant-choose-team-pvl-warns-draft-candidate-robins-hardy |access-date=4 June 2025 |work=The Philippine Star}}

=National team=

Robins-Hardy have played for the Philippine national team helping the team win a bronze medal at the first leg of the 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix in Nakhon Ratchasima. However, issues in obtaining a Philippine passport caused her to miss the second leg as well as the 2019 SEA Games.{{cite news |last1=Bautista |first1=Ohmer |title=Robins-Hardy to miss SEA Games due to PHI passport concern |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/robins-hardy-miss-sea-games-due-phi-passport-concern/163110 |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=4 October 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Agcaoli |first1=Lance |title=Alohi Robins-Hardy gives up spot in SEA Games team due to passport issues |url=https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/alohi-robins-hardy-gives-up-spot-in-sea-games-team-due-to-passport-issues-a2522-20191004 |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=4 October 2019 |language=en}}

Personal life

Robins-Hardy hails from Waimānalo, Hawaii.{{cite web |title=Alohi Robins-Hardy - Women's Volleyball 2014 |url=https://byucougars.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/player/alohi-robins-hardy-1 |website=BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website |access-date=27 May 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/drive/sports/11/14/19/these-two-fil-hawaiian-volleyball-players-would-have-been-seag-game-changers |title=These Fil-Hawaiian volleyball players would have been SEAG game changers |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804174023/https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/drive/sports/11/14/19/these-two-fil-hawaiian-volleyball-players-would-have-been-seag-game-changers |url-status=live }} She studied and played collegiate volleyball for the Brigham Young University.{{cite web |url=https://universe.byu.edu/2015/10/30/byu-womens-volleyball-players-unite-as-former-rivals/ |title=BYU women's volleyball players unite as former rivals |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203070034/https://universe.byu.edu/2015/10/30/byu-womens-volleyball-players-unite-as-former-rivals/ |url-status=live }} She is the cousin of Gabe Norwood a professional basketball player who plays in the PBA and member of the Philippines men's national basketball team.{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.ph/life/guide/gabe-norwood-is-one-proud-cousin-to-alohi-robins-hardy-a796-20190922 |title=Gabe Norwood always has cousin Alohi Robins-Hardy's back |access-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606012933/https://www.spin.ph/life/guide/gabe-norwood-is-one-proud-cousin-to-alohi-robins-hardy-a796-20190922 |url-status=live }} Her sister, Kawai, also plays volleyball for the Notre Dame de Namur University.{{cite web |url=https://ndnuargos.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/kawai-robins-hardy/993 |title=Kawai Robins-Hardy}}{{dead link|date=May 2025}}