Nadine "Kaui" Salzman is in her fourth year as assistant coach for the Chaminade University women’s volleyball team and has an extensive volleyball background as both a player and coach.
During the 2018 season, the Silverswords set school records in overall and conference wins with a 23-7 overall mark and a tie for third in the Pacific West Conference at 17-5. The season culminated in the program's first NCAA West Regional berth since 2004. The team was one of the nation's top attacking squads, finishing sixth in kills per set (14.63), eighth in assists per set (13.63) and 21st in attack percentage (.248) and 75th in opponent hitting percentage (.158). Five 'Swords received all-conference recognition including Emma Tecklenburg, who was named to the first team and also D2CCA All-West Region, while Alana Handy received PacWest Newcomer of the Year kudos.
In 2017, Salzman helped the Silverswords achieve the program's record-setting third consecutive winning season. Among the team's achievements was a four-match road sweep in Northern California, all in straight sets and helping Tecklenburg finish third in the PacWest in kills per set and a place on the all-conference third team.
In her first year as the full-time assistant in 2015, Kaui helped guide the 'Swords to a 19-9 mark, the program's first winning season since 2007. The 19 victories are also the second-most in program history. The program enjoyed its second straight winning season after a 16-13 mark in 2016.
Kaui enjoyed a standout four-year playing career at NCAA Division I member Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California, helping guide the Gaels to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including the school’s first-ever appearance in 2003.
Kaui was team captain from 2004-05, earning West Coast Conference First Team honors in 2004, helping guide Saint Mary’s to a spot in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals. She also earned All-West Coast Conference Academic Team honors from 2004-06. She concluded her collegiate career by being named the Senior Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 2006 and set the school record for career digs, which still stands while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Communications.
She played professionally for Voley Murica in Murica, Spain, then returned to the United States and played on pro beach volleyball on the AVP and CBVA Tours. Kaui’s highest finish on the AVP Tour was ninth in 2013 and also had first-place finishes in the CBVA Beach Open and Manhattan Beach Open in 2014.
It was during her playing career that Kaui delved into coaching. She was an indoor coach with the Gold Medal Squared Volleyball Clinics and traveled across the U.S. teaching the club’s philosophy to coaches and players. She also served as an assistant coach in her adopted hometown of San Diego, Calif., at UC San Diego and helped guide the Tritons to NCAA Regional appearances in 2007-08. She also helped to form the San Diego Beach Volleyball Club in 2010, the first-ever beach club team in San Diego, coaching youths from ages 12-18.
Kaui returned to Hawai‘i in 2014 and coached for the Spike and Serve Volleyball Club in Honolulu, coaching youths ages 13-16. She also helped to start the club’s beach volleyball team, which she currently heads.
Kaui was born and raised in Kaneohe, attending La Pietra Academy from the seventh to eighth grade before moving to San Diego in the ninth grade. She prepped at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, earning all-region and MVP honors during her senior season while also serving as team captain. Kaui is also a certified health coach, teaching nutrition and workout routines.
