Talia von Oelhoffen feels right at home on an island she’s never been to before.

The second-year freshman guard for Oregon State University’s women’s basketball team is the daughter of Molokai legendary athlete Kimo von Oelhoffen, a retired Super Bowl champion, and mom Tondi played basketball at the University of Hawaii.

Talia von Oelhoffen is here for the Maui Jim Maui Classic tournament that the Beavers host. She is seeing family members that she rarely gets to see.

“It’s amazing, especially just seeing my family more than anything,” she said. “Obviously, it’s the weather and just being here. So, super cool and for all my teammates get to experience it, too. It’s been really fun, just an awesome experience so far.”

Her grandfather will see her play tonight for just the second time ever, the first time in college.

“My little cousin, my grandpa I’ve seen, it’s really cool, my whole family came over, my parents and both my sisters,” Talia said. “Then I think I have a lot more family coming to the game, I don’t even know who yet for sure. I haven’t seen my grandpa in a couple years and he’s only been able to see me play I think one game in high school.

“This will be only the second time he’s ever watched me play in person, so that’s really special. And then obviously all my other family that comes, it’ll be their first time, so I’m super excited for that. And so happy that we get to do this every year and they get to see me play in the next few years as well.”

This is the fifth time the tournament has been held — the event did not happen last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Beavers (5-3) play Idaho tonight and Northern Iowa on Sunday — both games are at 5 p.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center. Idaho and Northern Iowa play each other on Saturday.

Oregon State next hosts North Carolina Central in Corvallis, Ore., on Dec. 28 before opening Pac-12 Conference play Dec. 31 at home against Colorado.

“These games are really important, only three left until we start Pac-12 play,” said von Oelhoffen, who leads the Beavers in scoring at 14.3 points per game and assists with 3.0 per game. “So, yeah, preseason went by really fast and these games are going to be really important just for us to continue getting better and finding that consistency that we’re kind of lacking right now.”

In the last three weeks, the Beavers have been to Florida, where they lost games to Michigan and Notre Dame, then home back to Corvallis, and are coming off a trip to Philadelphia and New Jersey, where they beat Monmouth and lost to Villanova.

Taya Corosdale, a redshirt junior guard who averages 6.0 points per game, is making her fourth trip to this tournament.

“It’s super exciting, I’m really happy that we’re able to be here and have this opportunity,” Corosdale said. “I think we’re really excited to get going tomorrow. I know that we’re ready to go and just able to soak up all this beautiful island, see the community and really put on a show for the people watching.”

The Beavers spent 27 hours in Corvallis after returning from their loss to Villanova on Sunday. They arrived on Maui on Tuesday afternoon.

“Not too bad, a couple days ago we were,” Corosdale said when asked about jetlag. “We got here early on Tuesday, so the first couple days we needed a little rest. … I think we’re happy the end our traveling preseason here.”

The Beavers have been practicing at the Bozich Center on the Maui Prep campus. They have interacted with all levels of students, from reading to the elementary school kids, to talking story with the middle schoolers and holding a clinic for the high school students.

“Oh my gosh, that was so fun,” Corosdale said. “That is always one of my favorite parts of this tournament is being able to hang out with the little cute kids at the school themselves. This year was a little different … but this was super special, too. We had the opportunity to put the kids through some drills and kind of interact with them. It was really fun.”

Oregon State head coach Scott Rueck said the games this weekend will be an opportunity to see some solid women’s college basketball.

“These are three teams that are used to winning a lot and very well-coached,” Rueck said. “A bit nontraditional for a program like us, both Idaho and Northern Iowa are. They really do a great job of spreading the floor, they’re skilled all over and they are very tough competitors.

“So, these are two more opportunities for us to grow and to develop confidence and consistency as we’re heading into conference play.”

General admission is $10. Ticket sales are online only, with no sales at the door. For a link to the Eventbrite ticketing site and more information, visit verticalsportsmaui.com.

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

Maui Jim Maui Classic

At Lahaina Civic Center

Today’s Game

Oregon St. vs. Idaho, 5 p.m.

Saturday’s Game

Idaho vs. Northern Iowa, 5 p.m.

Sunday’s Game

Oregon St. vs. Northern Iowa, 5 p.m.