Tyla Reese Mane's journey to the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team unfolds like a perfect sports movie – complete with unexpected twists, heartbreaking setbacks, and triumphant homecomings.
Growing up as the daughter of comedian James Mane, Tyla defied gender norms from the start. Not content with just playing soccer and volleyball, she became her high school's football kicker while her father coached the team. "When I first did it, I was kind of joking around," she admits. But after blasting a 40-yard kick in her first scrimmage, everyone realized she wasn't just some girl trying to prove a point – she was the real deal. What truly touched her heart wasn't just playing, but seeing young girls approach her with admiration: "That's so cool that you play football." Through this experience, Tyler became a living example that girls aren't "only subjected to just this box of things."
Despite her multi-sport background, volleyball eventually captured her heart, offering a supportive environment unlike the critical atmospheres she experienced in other sports. But with limited club experience and COVID disrupting recruitment opportunities, her path to college volleyball wasn't straightforward. She accepted a full scholarship to a junior college in Casper, Wyoming – a place so unfamiliar she had to Google "10 facts about Wyoming" before deciding.
The Wyoming chapter brought challenges – harsh weather, limited playing time, seasonal depression, and a volleyball culture focused on offensive power rather than the defensive mindset she knew from Hawaii. "It was definitely a difficult time in my life," she reflects, "but an experience that I needed to go through."
Through persistence, additional training, and supportive connections, Tyla eventually received the opportunity she'd dreamed of – a chance to try out for the University of Hawaii volleyball team. When offered a walk-on position with the Rainbow Wahine, she could barely maintain her composure. "I was sitting there trying to have a straight face," she recalls, while "little Tyla was freaking out" inside.
For aspiring athletes, Tyla's advice is powerful: prioritize academics, utilize your support system, and most importantly, ask yourself: "What extra are you doing that other people aren't doing?" As her father taught her, "You're doing this while these other girls are sleeping."
Want to follow Tyler's final season with the Rainbow Wahine? Find her on Instagram at @tylareesekmane and watch her continue to break barriers and inspire the next generation.
