In what should be a smooth transition for the Hawaii women's volleyball team, former Pepperdine All-American and Rainbow Wahine volunteer assistant Scott Wong was named UH associate coach yesterday.

Wong replaces Mike Sealy, who was hired last month as the head coach for the UCLA women's team.

“;I think it's a very natural hire, a good hire,”; Sealy said. “;The fact that he's worked with us before and we have similar styles ... I think Dave (Wahine coach Shoji) was able to see that it would be an easy transition.”;

Wong was among four finalists Shoji submitted to athletic director Jim Donovan on Monday. Shoji would not name the other finalists nor any of the other applicants, saying that he had been impressed by the quality of those who had applied.

“;It's a win-win hire for us, getting an up-and-coming young coach,”; Shoji said.

Wong was the 1998 AVCA national freshman of the year at Pepperdine and a two-time All-American for the Waves. He played for the U.S. national indoor team and had a successful beach career as well. Wong returned to Pepperdine as a men's assistant for two two-year stints, sandwiching his volunteer season with the Wahine in 2006. He was the associate coach at the University of San Francisco last season.

“;I couldn't be more excited,”; said Wong, expected to be in Hawaii on Saturday. “;It's a dream come true. It's amazing how life comes full circle. Cobey (Shoji's daughter) and I were classmates (at Punahou) and I baby-sat the boys (Stanford players Kawika and Erik) years ago, then recruited them to come to Pepperdine.”;