[ WAHINE VOLLEYBALL ]
Wahine practice, play
Nittaidai next week
The Hawaii women's volleyball team begins its rebuilding process Monday with its first spring practice.
The Rainbow Wahine return one starter in setter Kanoe Kamana'o, the AVCA National Freshman of the Year, from a team that finished 36-2 and tied for third in the NCAA Tournament. Hawaii has to replace six starters, including All-Americans Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku.
The Wahine conclude the week with an exhibition against Nittaidai of Japan on March 19. Tickets are $5 general admission for the match at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The 2004 schedule was announced yesterday, featuring three home tournaments and two nonconference matches with Pepperdine. The Wahine open against Eastern Washington on Sept. 2 in the Hawaiian Airlines Classic, a tournament also featuring San Diego and Arizona.
"It's a good schedule for what we have to do next year," said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji. "We've got some good teams coming in and some teams that will allow us to develop our team."
Shoji said he will honor the commitment to the UNLV Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 26-27, although former Wahine All-American Deitre Collins is no longer the coach. The Wahine will already be on the mainland, with the Western Athletic Conference tournament Nov. 19-21, and "We need to be playing," said Shoji.
Hawaii, which has won the last eight WAC titles, opens conference play on the road with a Sept. 30 match at Fresno State.
2004 Wahine schedule
September--2: Hawaiian Airlines Classic, UH vs. Eastern Washington, 7 p.m. 3: HAC, Arizona vs. Eastern Washington, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. San Diego, 7 p.m. 4: HAC, San Diego vs. Arizona, 2 p.m. 5: HAC, Eastern Washington vs. San Diego, 5 p.m.; UH vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. 9: Aston Imua Challenge, UCLA vs. Santa Clara, 5 p.m.; UH vs. SW Missouri State, 7 p.m. 10: AIC, SW Missouri State vs. UCLA, 5 p.m.; UH vs. Santa Clara, 7 p.m. 11: AIC, Santa Clara vs. SW Missouri State, 5 p.m.; UH vs. UCLA, 7 p.m. 17: Sprint Hawaii Invitational, UH vs. California, 7 p.m. 18: SHI, UH vs. UC Irvine, 7 p.m. 19: SHI, UC Irvine vs. California, 3 p.m. 24: Pepperdine. 25: Alumnae, 5 p.m.; Pepperdine. 30: x-at Fresno State.October--2: x-at Nevada. 8: x-Boise State. 10: x-UTEP. 14: x-at Louisiana Tech. 16: x-at SMU. 21: x-Rice. 22: x-Tulsa. 28: x-at San Jose State. 29: x-at Boise State.
November--5: x-Fresno State. 12: x-San Jose State. 13: x-Nevada. 19-21: WAC Tournament, TBA. 26-27: at UNLV Thanksgiving Tournament.
December--2-5: NCAA Tournament 1st-2nd rounds, TBA. 9-12: NCAA regionals, TBA. 16-18: NCAA championship, Long Beach, Calif.
x-denotes Western Athletic Conference match
All home matches, Stan Sheriff Center, 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise