Alohi Robins-Hardy talks about her PVL debut with the Farm Fresh Foxies, as well as getting to re-experience the Philippine volleyball once again.
Alohi Robins-Hardy has finally made her Premier Volleyball League debut as a player with the Farm Fresh Foxies.
Robins-Hardy was inserted midway through Farm Fresh’s 2025 PVL On Tour opener against the PLDT High Speed Hitters, finishing with three points off the Foxies’ bench in the 18-25, 21-25, 26-28 loss at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.
“You know, it feels great, and it’s bittersweet. First game out there, and my work is showing, and for our team as well. I’m proud of our girls, they’re really trusting the process, and it’s a relief honestly. It’s been way too long,” Robins-Hardy said of her debut.
“I’m not super satisfied, but I know I can play and I can move well. And I think that comes with my experience, so I think coach [Alessandro Lodi] is really helping me with that too, and his system, I think we’re flowing pretty well, but I think there’s always going to be work to be done.”
Robins-Hardy, though, is no stranger to Philippine volleyball, having played with United VC and the Cignal HD Spikers in the now-defunct Philippine Superliga’s (PSL) 2019 regular season.
So while her debut ended in a loss, re-experiencing such a passionate sporting environment acted as a silver lining.
“It’s been a while, obviously. The last time I played in a game was back in 2019 [PSL Invitational Conference], and it feels good!” she said. “There were a lot of fans…but it feels good, and the fanbase is always super supportive and always loud.”
Robins-Hardy believes that Filipino volleyball players remain “scrappy” and the style of play remains similar to what she was exposed to in the PSL.
“Everybody’s still scrappy, and on the sideline, I was like ‘freaking Kath [Arado]!’ she’s amazing as always. So it’s nice to see the same players on the other side and it’s just the same scrappy play.”
Robins-Hardy, though, observed that the playing field has gotten younger, while talents are now more naturally gifted.
“There’s younger players as well, so you know? They’re hitting high, they’re jumping hard, and yeah, it’s nice.”
Unfinished business
Robins-Hardy is coming off a year-long layoff with the Foxies, taking on assistant coaching duties after the PVL’s new Rookie Draft regulations foiled her Philippine volleyball comeback.
For the towering setter, that experience on the sideline served as a motivation, knowing that she could have suited up and helped the Foxies’ cause as early as the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
“From outside, you want to get in there, especially for me, since I’m still able to play. Last year was tough, but it’s great honestly, and it’s amazing,” she admitted.
Now that she’s back in action, Alohi Robins-Hardy is just focused on growing with Farm Fresh’s core led by reigning Best Opposite Trisha Tubu, lead setter Louie Romero, and middle blocker Rizza Cruz.
But at the same time, Robins-Hardy knows that rising to contention in the PVL won’t be an easy task, and will be a process filled with its share of growing pains — whether it’s her own re-adjustment back into the PVL, or even the transition to new coach Alesandro Lodi’s system.
“We wanna win, obviously that’s the big goal. But at the same time, we just want to trust the process as I’ve said before. And for me as well, trusting the process, trusting the coach, and helping translate coach wants to the team as well,” she said.
“I know sometimes there is a language barrier, so that’s probably going to be the biggest thing for me, which is helping translate what coach wants, as well as pushing my teammates to be better everyday as well as myself.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.