Faces in
the crowd

5 Caroline Blood

Junior > 6-0 > M/RS > Long Beach, Calif. (Wilson)

Blood played briefly in three matches last season, combined for the match-winning block vs. Boise State (Nov. 8) and had two digs vs. Tulsa (Oct. 22) ... Played one season for the Wahine softball team. In high school, earned four letters in softball and three in volleyball. All-league twice in volleyball, three times in softball. Volleyball team was state runner-up in 2002.

8 Jamie Houston

Freshman > 6-2 > ls > Huntsville, Ala. (Huntsville)

Houston was named the Super All-Metro State Player of the Year by the Huntsville Times. She is a two-time Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year, a Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 pick and a member of the USA Junior National A2 Team. Was on three state championship volleyball teams, named state tourney MVP, and was an all-state basketball player. Can dunk a basketball.

6 Jessica Keefe

Freshman > 6-0 > LS/RS > Ames, Iowa (Ames)

Keefe redshirted last season. In high school, she lettered three years in both volleyball and basketball, one in track. Was the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year in volleyball, earned all-state honors twice and was a three-time first-team all-conference honoree. Also earned first-team all-conference honors and took fourth in the state pentathlon in track and field in 2001.

17 Sarah Mason

Junior > 6-3 > LS/RS > Hilo (St. Joseph/Oregon)

Mason transferred after two seasons at Oregon. She led the Pac-10 last season in aces (37) and was third in kill average (4.01 kpg). Named to the Pac-10 honorable-mention team. Named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team in 2003. Was a two-time all-state volleyball player (Hilo High as a junior and St. Joseph as a senior).

9 Nickie Thomas

Freshman > 6-3 > M > Austin, Texas (Westwood)

Thomas redshirted last season. She played three years of volleyball and was a high-jumper on the track team for two years. Was named All-Texas in volleyball and selected to Volleyball magazine's Fab 50 list. As a senior, led her high school team to the first-ever perfect season in district play.

In the Mix: Walk-ons hoping to make team

Wahine Insider went to press before UH coach Dave Shoji made his final cuts, saying he wanted to keep 18 on the roster. In camp earlier this month were four freshmen hoping to fill two walk-on spots: Lia Chun, 6-foot hitter, Leilehua; Rayna Kitaguchi, 5-8 hitter, Hawaii Baptist; Jayme Lee, 5-2 defensive specialist, Hawaii Baptist; and Jennifer Lindsey, 6-3 middle, Kauai. Lindsey, a two-time state high-jump champ, may also compete on the Wahine track team. Also in camp was junior Kelli Whitaker, a 6-foot outside hitter from Vanguard University (NAIA) in California.