There is never an offseason for women's volleyball. At least not for Hawaii, where one Rainbow Wahine is already playing professionally, another will be trying out for the U.S. national team and another has qualified for the NCAA track and field championships.

And, thanks to the NCAA Women's Volleyball Committee yesterday, Sunday's year-end banquet celebration gets a little more festive.

Hawaii was selected as one of four regional host schools for the 2011 NCAA tournament, the first time UH has hosted a portion of the postseason championship event since 2006. The other sites are Minnesota, Florida and Kentucky, with play on Dec. 9 and 10.

“;I'm really excited about the opportunity to host an NCAA regional,”; Wahine coach Dave Shoji said yesterday. “;I think our fans are very deserving and it's a great incentive for players to be at home playing in the postseason.

“;It would be nice to have a first and second round as well ... but I'm just happy that we're going to be hosting some good volleyball.”;

Despite its consistent success and monetary guarantee, UH has not been awarded the first two rounds since 2003. With the exception of '03 and '06, the Rainbow Wahine have been on the road for all of the NCAA tournament every season since 2001.

The 2011 regional coincides with All-American Kanani Danielson's senior year. The sophomore outside hitter will continue to hone her game next month at USA Volleyball's open tryouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The tryouts for the national and training teams begin Feb. 19.

“;I think she can play at the highest level,”; Shoji said of the 5-foot-10 Danielson. “;Size can be a determining factor, but she has such great skills she can overcome that.”;

The Rainbow Wahine lost five seniors from their 32-3 squad that finished with a No. 3 national ranking. One of those — captain Aneli Cubi-Otineru — won't be attending the banquet, having signed with the Mets de Guaynabo, one of 10 teams in the Puerto Rican women's pro volleyball league.

Cubi-Otineru ended her Wahine career as one of three UH players named to Volleyball magazine's All-America team announced this week. Cubi-Otineru was named to the second team, and Danielson and senior middle Amber Kaufman were named to the first team; also on the first team was Washington's senior libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05).

Kaufman is continuing her Wahine career with the track and field team. She qualified for March's NCAA championships by winning the high jump at Washington's Indoor Preview. She cleared 6 feet, 1 1/2 inches two weeks ago.