GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii's Jessica Keefe set a ball into the air as the Rainbow Wahine got ready for the start of yesterday's practice at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Expectations
are HI

In a state where volleyball is queen,
the Wahine hope the hype feeds
a successful season

DOROTHY had her Kansas.

Sarah Mason had her Oregon.

But the two share something in common: Oz.

At least that's how Mason felt during yesterday's Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Media Day at the Stan Sheriff Center. Trying to compare the hype around the Hawaii program with that of her former school was like watching the movie "The Wizard of Oz" go from black-and-white to Technicolor.

"I don't remember having one (a media day) at Oregon," said Mason, the junior hitter who transferred from a struggling Ducks program after two years. "Here, I expect it. I'm from Hawaii (Hilo) and I know how big Wahine volleyball is.

"Coming here, you think you know so much about volleyball. But your eyes are opened. I thought I was pretty good. There is so much more to volleyball and so much more to learn."

The countdown to the season opener has begun for Mason and her teammates, who will be in Nebraska this time next week, facing the No. 1-ranked Huskers in the AVCA/NACWAA Showcase in Omaha.

Last March, Hawaii fell to Nebraska in an exhibition 26-28, 20-25, 25-22, 27-25, 15-10 at the Sheriff Center, a match that saw UH coach Dave Shoji use 14 players, while the Huskers used just seven.

"That (loss) might be one reason they're ranked first and we're ranked fourth," Shoji said. "To us, it didn't matter. I wanted to play everybody and we did. Our players wanted to win, but it wasn't the only factor for me.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Dave Shoji kept an eye on the Rainbow Wahine's practice yesterday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

That will change a week from now. First up will be Nebraska on Friday, then either defending champion Stanford, ranked third, or No. 5 Penn State on Saturday.

"I'm really excited, really juiced to play these really good teams," said libero Ashley Watanabe, one of three UH seniors. "I can't measure where we've come from the spring, but I know that we've been working really hard and everyone has improved. I'm going in with confidence."

"What's exciting is that we're in the NACWAA and it means we're one of the top teams projected in the country," said junior backup setter Cayley Thurlby. "People watch to see what happens, see what's the deal with the teams that are in it."

It will be the first taste of Division I for Wahine freshman Jamie Houston, who arrived from Alabama just a few weeks ago. She won't be overwhelmed, having trained with the U.S. Junior National Team over the summer with several players from Stanford and Penn State.

"I'm looking forward to playing Nebraska," said Houston, Hawaii's only freshman recruit. "It's going to be fun."

Note: Sophomore hitter Tara Hittle was off crutches and in a protective brace yesterday. She is recuperating from a sprained right ankle, an injury suffered last Friday, and hasn't practiced since. In the spring match with Nebraska, Hittle had a team-high 16 kills.