Alohi Robins-Hardy joins UP women’s volleyball team as assistant coach.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Alohi Robins-Hardy bolsters the coaching staff of the University of the Philippines women’s volleyball team in the UAAP Season 87 in early 2025.

The UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development on Wednesday announced the new role of Robins-Hardy as one of the assistant coaches of Fighting Maroons head coach Benson Bocboc.

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Robins-Hardy was recruited by Farm Fresh for the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference but was ruled ineligible to play after the league declared she must go through the Rookie Draft to enter.

READ: Alohi cool even after PVL shuts door on direct Farm Fresh entry

But when a door closes, a window opens.

UP, which is backed by Farm Fresh owner Frank Lao, tapped the Filipino-American setter to oversee the growth of promising playmaker Heart Magsombol.

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Robins-Hardy, the cousin of PBA star Gabe Norwood, played in the defunct Philippine Superliga with United Volleyball Club-Cocolife before winning Best Setter and a silver medal with Cignal in 2019.

READ: PVL says Farm Fresh’s Alohi Robins-Hardy ineligible to play

She also saw action for the national team during their bronze run in the 2019 Asean Grand Prix — now rebranded as the SEA VLeague.

The 6-foot-3 playmaker played for VK Dukla Liberec in Czechia last season. She also played in France with Terville-Frorange OC in the 2022-23 season.

The 28-year-old player will also work with the likes of Niña Ytang, Nica Celis, and Irah Jaboneta as well as youngsters Kianne Olango, Yesha Noceja, and Jothea Mae Ramos as UP seeks to rise from a one-win campaign in Season 86.