Second-ranked Hawai'i opens against 15th-ranked Kansas State Friday in the State Farm Women's Volleyball Classic. It plays top-ranked Southern California or third-ranked Florida the next night.

No one needs to tell Hawai'i's seven seniors what is at stake this season. They have been to two final fours and come home with no hardware. There are no more chances.

The All-Americans are ready. Lily Kahumoku is all but unstoppable in practice. Kim Willoughby's game is as breathtaking as ever. Lauren Duggins is still searching for a skill she cannot master.

But there are still three positions separated by very little, according to UH coach Dave Shoji. Here's a look at his 2003 depth chart going into the opener:

KAMANA'O

• Kanoe Kamana'o 5-8 Fr.
• Cayley Thurlby 5-11 Fr.

Consistency solved the most compelling question of the offseason. The first-year setters are extremely confident and competent at the quick and back sets. Kamana'o gets the call, for now, because she has set the high outside ball — the heart of Hawai'i's offense — more reliably.

Little separates them otherwise. Neither is as good a blocker as Jennifer Carey, one of the 'Bows' two all-conference setters last season. Both need work defensively to catch the other — Margaret Vakasausau — after growing up with systems much different than they have now.

Shoji is optimistic, and simplistic.

"I think we'll be able to run whatever we want to run," he says. "It's just the off plays. ... On a good pass I'll let them choose and try to create something. On a bad pass, they better just work hard to get the ball high and up to Kim and Lily."

DUGGINS

GUSTIN

• Lauren Duggins 6-0 Sr.
• Maja Gustin 6-3 Sr.
• Karin Lundqvist 6-3 Sr.
• Melody Eckmier 6-3 Jr.
• Kari Gregory 6-3 Fr.
• Juliana Sanders 6-2 Fr.

Shoji sees this as a make-or-break position. It was the difference in both losses to Stanford last season and will be the focus of every crucial match this year.

"We need more from the middle in the big games," Shoji says. "Against an average team, our middles block a lot of balls and hit for a high percentage. It's just against the USCs and Floridas and Stanfords that we need better numbers from them."

Duggins looks the least imposing, but covers the most court and has All-American versatility, as she proved last year. She is the most reliable blocker of the bunch and has pumped up her game, particularly her offense, every year. She'll get to show off her backcourt skills this year, with the libero replacing the other middle and right-side.

Gustin, all-WAC her first two years, and Lundqvist, all-WAC last year, shared the second middle position last season because of injuries. Shoji is having a tough time picking between them now.

Gustin "has things we need," according to Shoji, and has the edge because of the aggressive offense she brings. But, he wants her to put up a more imposing block and be more consistent. Lundqvist has recovered rapidly from major knee reconstruction in January. She jumps as well as Duggins and is quicker than Gustin. Her time will depend on how much offense she creates.

Eckmier's game has taken quantum leaps every summer. She might be the strongest of the first four and has shown flashes of dominance, but her foot speed can't keep up with the others. Gregory and Sanders will probably red-shirt.

VILLAROMAN

• Melissa Villaroman 5-6 Sr.
• Ashley Watanabe 5-6 So.
• Raeceen Woolford 5-7 Fr.
• Katy Carlson 5-6 Fr.

Villaroman might be the player the Rainbow Wahine rely upon most. She is their best defender and among the best passers. "She has complete control of the game," Shoji says. "She goes hard for every ball. She's not perfect but it's just hard to fault anything she does on the court."

Watanabe has come from nowhere to be Villaroman's heir apparent and is the only proven backup. Woolford and Carlson will probably spend this season training as red-shirts.

TANO

BOOGAARD

• Nohea Tano 5-11 Sr.
• or Susie Boogaard 6-3 So.
• Alicia Arnott 6-0 Fr.
• Teisa Fotu 6-0 Sr.

Tano and Boogaard could not be more different, or closer to starting, just like last year. Boogaard is in better shape than a year ago, is the better blocker and hits the high set more effectively. Tano is an exceptional quick hitter and provides more side-out potential. She is also a better defender.

Their fate could depend on the opposition or their teammates. If the middle attack is effective and the left sides are their usual All-American selves, look for Boogaard to be in. If the middles are struggling and the team needs side-outs, Tano will be in.

"We need a solid block and help on offense, and be able to set that off play," Shoji says. "You don't have to pass or play defense, although that would be a bonus."

Shoji is convinced that Arnott is ready "right now." She is blessed with a pure arm swing and is already one of the strongest 'Bows. Her work ethic can be gauged by her vertical jump; Arnott has gained five inches in 18 months.

Fotu, a 1999 Kahuku graduate, earned second-team all-Pacific West honors the last two years at Hawai'i Pacific, then transferred to Manoa. She will probably red-shirt.

KAHUMOKU

WILLOUGHBY

• Lily Kahumoku 6-2 Sr.
• and Kim Willoughby 6-0 Sr.
• Alicia Arnott 6-0 Fr.
• Susie Boogaard 6-3 So.

No one can go two-deep here like Hawai'i. It is the first team in NCAA history to return two two-time first-team All-Americans. Kahumoku and Willoughby are dramatically different, equally dynamic and — if all goes well for UH — will launch about 70 percent of the offense.

"They both have to have great games against the good teams," Shoji says. "They need to carry the team, basically. They're capable and they have to, if we're going to win."

If the Rainbow Wahine want to win a fifth national championship this year, both have to stay healthy and happy. Arnott and Boogaard are part of the future. The future for seven seniors is now.