From Mainland to Island: Kurt Nursterer's Volleyball Story

From first serves to island vibes 🌴🏐 — University of Hawaii’s Kurt Nursterer shares his volleyball journey, why he chose UH, and what makes playing in paradise so special. Hit play to hear his story and get an inside look at Hawaii volleyball!

2024 (Sophomore):
Started 28-of-30 matches at middle blocker
Finished the season averaging 1.07 kills per set, hitting at a .460 clip
Led the team and ranked 10th nationally in blocks per set (1.05)
Career-high 10 blocks (1 solo) vs. UC Santa Barbara (March 30)
Totaled 18 blocks in three wins at the OUTRIGGER Invitational which earned him Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors
Career-high six aces during an 18-0 scoring run vs. Tusculum (Feb. 4)
Career-high eight kills, hitting .636 vs. Loyola Chicago (Jan. 5) and UC Irvine in Big West semis (April 19)
Tallied nine blocks vs. UC Irvine (March 10)
Named to Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll

2023 (Redshirt Freshman):
All-Big West Freshman Team
Appeared in 11 matches with four starts at middle blocker
Made UH debut against Saint Francis (Jan. 18)
Finished third on the team in hitting percentage (.490)
In first career start, had a career-high seven kills and three blocks against Barton (Jan. 28)
Helped spark the team against UCLA (March 11) with five kills and three blocks
Big West Freshman of the Week (Jan. 30)
Named to the Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll
@hawaiiathletics

0:00
2:40 Where is Kurt from
3:02 When did volleyball start
4:40 Where did volleyball rank for boys in IN
6:35 Playing club and recruiting started
8:30 HP tryouts
10:20 The offers
11:10 Committed to 2 schools
12:30 Decided to Hawaii at the last minute **
13:30 the volleyball hook
15:00 When did the big jump in skill happen **
16:55 Took the opportunity to learn *
17:25 Coming back from Austria **
18:25 Charlie "Worst technical player ever"
20:40 difficult things to deal w that first year **
21:40 Understanding your role *
23:00 Redshirting a life skill *
23:15 Freshman advice for Kurt *
24:00 Things you learned from *
24:15 Highlights at UH *
26:10 Playing at home **
27:40 The Japan trip
29:35 Japan match
29:50 Kurt's pepper skills **
30:25 Austrian training approach *
31:30 How is the season going *
32:05 BYU match *
33:00 The altitude at BYU *
33:40 Catching up **
34:45 NIL *
35:55 Pre Game ritual
37:50 The joker
38:25 Resetting
39:15 Valuing the things in life **
40:00 The Spyros injury *
43:44 Things that made Kurt a better blocker **
45:40 Most hated drill *
46:20 Milan
49:10 biggest mentor *
50:50 Pookie **
52:11 Toughest position in vball **
54:45 Away from volleyball
56:12 Road trips and conference realignment *
57:55 Who is next ** Jacob