Filipino-Hawaiians Alohi Robins-Hardy of Farm Fresh and Brooke Van Sickle of Nxled left the 2026 Volleyball All-Star Showcase with more than just another game on their resumes, calling their stint in Candon a memorable experience.
Suiting up for Team Hustle in the Premier Volleyball All-Star Game, the duo took part in an entertaining matchup against Team Heart, where several unexpected and lighthearted moments unfolded to the delight of fans and players alike.
At several points in the match, the game took on an unconventional tone as roles were briefly switched, with a linesman and a coach taking turns serving, while some players stepped in as line judges, drawing cheers and laughter from the crowd.
Volunteers were also given the chance to join the action on the court. In the final play, one of them even delivered the game-winning attack for Team Heart, capping a sequence of unexpected and festive moments.
“Just having the crowd and the energy, and seeing the players having fun, being loose, having officials join the game—it was just good, enjoyable volleyball, and you know… all the teammates that I didn’t know, it was so fun,” said Van Sickle.
“I was telling Alohi, as the game was going on, my cheeks were hurting so much just from smiling. All around, it’s a good experience and eye-opening to be able to see and understand the players even more,” she added.
The two also relished the opportunity to connect with players from different teams, sharing the court in a setting that allowed them to interact beyond usual club rivalries and build new on-court and off-court connections throughout the three-day festivities.
“It was awesome, the whole experience—it’s awesome. Food is always great here, and being able to play with Brooke again, and with everyone else, it’s so much,” said the Farm Fresh setter.
Beyond the game itself, they also enjoyed the various activities leading up to the All-Star match, including a tree-planting activity, a farm visit, a meet-and-greet with young aspiring players and fans, and dining near the shark aquarium at the Candon City Aquarium and Park.
“My best experience being in here is the planting of trees. It’s my first time doing it. Like, I don’t know why, I guess that’s the normal here, and it’s also nice to see that people are always giving back to the community and that’s the normalized thing here,” said the three-time league MVP, who traces her roots to nearby San Emilio.
“So it’s really awesome to see, one step at a time, one tree at a time, and doing things for the planet. So we’re doing great things here. So it’s like (when) people (tell you to) go touch grass, so I’m like touching grass,” she added with a laugh.
