Hittle optimistic
she won’t miss
UH’s opener

The sophomore outside hitter
believes her ankle will be healed
in time to face Nebraska

Prior to spraining her ankle last Friday, Tara Hittle had suffered only one serious injury in her athletic career ... a separated shoulder.

That injury healed quickly, which has Hittle, a sophomore outside hitter for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, optimistic about being back on the practice court soon.

Hittle has been unable to put any pressure on the foot the past few days and arrived at yesterday's practice on crutches. Her injury had been diagnosed as a grade-2 sprain with an expected rehabilitation time of one to two weeks.

X-rays were taken last night with the results expected some time today.

"I feel all right," Hittle said yesterday. "It's a big bummer, but it's better that it happened (Friday) than in a couple of days.

"I have time to heal before Nebraska. I'm not worried about this."

The Rainbow Wahine take on the preseason No. 1 Huskers Aug. 26 at the AVCA/NACWAA Volleyball Showcase in Omaha, Neb. Hawaii, ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll, returns all seven starters from last year's 30-1 squad.

Despite Hittle's optimism, Hawaii coach Dave Shoji is not counting on last year's Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year being ready for next week's competition. He anticipates replacing the 6-foot Hittle with 6-3 junior Sarah Mason, a St. Joseph High product who transferred after two seasons at Oregon.

Shoji also said he was "close" to deciding on a starting lineup.

"Maybe by late this week," he said. "Everyone is ready to go and has been playing well."

Hittle rolled her right ankle in the waning minutes of last Friday's practice when stepping on the foot of teammate Nickie Thomas. Part of her treatment has included putting aloe on the ankle before wrapping it, the same swelling-reduction treatment trainer Tara Humpheys has used when working with the UH men's basketball team.

Also yesterday, two freshmen walk-ons from Hawaii Baptist Academy have been added to this year's roster, bringing the number of players to 18 for the season.

Added to the roster over the weekend were 5-foot-8 Rayna Kitaguchi and 5-2 Jayme Lee. Both will train as defensive specialists/liberos.

"They're just good volleyball players and they work hard," Shoji said yesterday.