Rainbows are a work in progress

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Junior libero Ashley Watanabe and the rest of the Rainbow Wahine will have to raise their game another notch this season. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

There was no talk of talent.

Attitude, work ethic, potential, chemistry ... there was talk of these abstract characteristics in abundance. At this very early point in UH coach Dave Shoji's 30th season, they offer optimism.

In contrast, there is no way to tell how talented this Hawai'i team will be until it takes on Eastern Washington in the season opener Sept. 2.

"We've got so many positions that are unproven," Shoji says. "I'm worried about how competitive we can be with very little experience out there. Then again, it's exciting because we're getting a chance to develop players again."

Even with just one starter returning — 2003 national freshman of the year Kanoe Kamana'o — the Rainbow Wahine were ranked 13th in the preseason coaches' poll. They go into the season a complete mystery, down to the amount of pressure the unproven feel.

What can reasonably be expected of them this season? Since when have Hawai'i fans had reasonable expectations?

When a program has four national titles, resides nearly full-time in the sport's Top-10 penthouse and has crushed its conference foes for six straight seasons, excellence is always the expectation.

"The kids in that program are always under pressure," Fresno State coach Lindy Vivas says. "What the expectations have been all these years ... I'm pretty sure that's why they came."

It is why Melody Eckmier has stayed. The fifth-year senior has never been a full-time starter, came back from two knee surgeries, graduated last May and is starting her master's in marine geophysics.

Shoji calls her the "ultimate team player." In this unpredictable season, she will be Hawai'i's captain and spiritual soul. Eckmier knows she can't talk talent — "yet" — but has had a good feeling about this group from the moment the 'Bows were done in Dallas last December.

"I've always felt we had a bright future," Eckmier said. "Everybody has a great attitude and attitude is everything. You win and lose games because of attitude."

She feels no pressure beyond her own demanding standards of performance and has an optimistic response for every huge question mark her team inspires.

Eckmier relishes the thought of not knowing how good Hawai'i can be. She looks forward to the Rainbow Wahine proving themselves.

She is realistic enough to know there will be "shaky" times and a few terrified looks early on.

She has a simple solution: "You just get back in the gym and work harder."

For all his doubts, that is the one thing Shoji knows to be true.

"I know that their work ethic is such that they can be a good team," he says. "These kids have worked very hard over the summer. It's the hardest-working group I've ever had. All the returnees were here most of the summer. It's a team that wants to be good. If it's left up to them, they will be good. They will work as hard as they need to work to be good."

It will look nothing like last year. The offense will bolt into hyper-drive and every hitter will be "live" on every play — out of necessity. Defenses won't be able to cheat outside as they did with Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku.

Then again, a dozen kills a game will be missing without those two All-American arms.

For these Rainbow Wahine to succeed, many players will need to get a few kills every game. Most will have to be willing to take "the big swing." It will be a big change, and takes lot of trust for people who are only beginning to know one another.

"We need chemistry," Eckmier says. "We're good athletes but we're a young team. We don't know each other as players, don't know each other's tendencies. Having team camaraderie is really, really important."

That's part of the reason the team will sleep in the same room at Stan Sheriff Center for the next two weeks of "double-days" practices. It's also why the freshmen have been here all week and Washington State transfer Victoria Prince came in a month ago.

Eckmier points to Prince as the player most likely to surprise, even comparing her to Lauren Duggins, one of those seven seniors who left with second-team All-America honors.

Prince is eager to prove her right: "I can't wait, I'm so excited," she said. "We are going to be really good."

How does she know? Same as everybody else — "chemistry" and "work ethic" and whatever that is the Stan Sheriff Center crowd gives its teams.

Talent isn't everything. At least, not now.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.

UH RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

September

2-5—Hawaiian Airlines Volleyball Classic (2—Hawai'i vs. Eastern Washington, 7 p.m. 3—Arizona vs. Eastern Washington, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. San Diego, 7 p.m. 4—San Diego vs. Arizona, 2 p.m. 5—Eastern Washington vs. San Diego, 4 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. Arizona, 6 p.m.)

9-11—Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Volleyball Challenge (9—UCLA vs. Santa Clara, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. SW Missouri State, 7 p.m. 10—Southwest Missouri State vs. UCLA, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. Santa Clara, 7 p.m. 11—Santa Clara vs. SW Missouri State, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. UCLA, 7 p.m.)

17-19—Waikiki Beach Marriott Invitational (17—Hawai'i vs. California, 7 p.m. 18—Hawai'i vs. UC-Irvine, 7 p.m. 19—UC-Irvine vs. California, 3 p.m.)

24—Pepperdine. 25—Pepperdine (preceded by 5 p.m. alumnae exhibition). 30—*at Fresno State

October

2—*at Nevada. 8—*Boise State*. 10—*UTEP, 4 p.m. 14—*at Louisiana Tech. 16—*at Southern Methodist. 21—*Rice. 22—*Tulsa. 27—*at San Jose State. 29—*at Boise State

November

5—*Fresno State. 12—*San Jose State. 13—*Nevada. 19-21—WAC Tournament (Reno, Nev.). 23—at Utah State. 24—at Utah

*conference matches

Home matches begin at 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center, unless noted