Shoji surprised by rebuilt Rainbows

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

If you are looking for panic or desperation in the eyes of the Rainbow Wahine as they forge into their volleyball season opener tonight, blink again.

Kanoe Kamana'o must make her sets faster and lower for a team that lost 90 percent of its offense. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Dave Shoji is relatively relaxed, even buoyant, heading into his 30th year as head coach. His players aren't in a panic despite losing a tidal wave of all-conference senior teammates from last year. The seniors took 90 percent of the UH offense, 86 percent of the block, 77 percent of the defense and every primary passer with them.

Still, the atmosphere is startlingly ... serene and upbeat.

"I'm actually somewhat relieved at what I've seen," Shoji says. "We've been doing good things in practice. The individuals have all improved over the summer. It almost looks pretty good out there at times."

It is a qualified endorsement for sure, but any endorsement is surprising at this point for the renovated Rainbows, ranked 13th in the preseason despite returning just one starter.

This is a program that hasn't lost to an unranked opponent in seven years, hasn't been out of the Top 25 in 158 weeks and has led the country in attendance the last eight years. Two out of three would be an accomplishment this season.

Shoji won't make promises — "All phases of our game are a little bit worrisome," he admits — but he has been pleasantly surprised by what he's seen last spring and during the last three weeks of practice.

"Offensively, we have more weapons than we thought," Shoji says, "and our setter (Kanoe Kamana'o) can get the ball to the right person and give them the opportunity to make something happen."

He is also surprised at the hurt Susie Boogaard, Alicia Arnott, Juliana Sanders and Victoria Prince have put on the volleyball. After spending the first few weeks on detailed technique work, the past few days have focused on "going after it," and they have.

"Now he wants us to go out and make it second nature," Sanders says.

The read-and-rip offensive approach makes for spectacular kills, but rapid rejections. Kamana'o and a new offense designed to stay under the blockers' radar are there to minimize the rejections and help Hawai'i gain confidence as its players learn each other's names, to say nothing of nuances.

The amped-up offense has been in place eight months or — no coincidence — since Kim Willoughby, Lily Kahumoku, Lauren Duggins, etc., used up their eligibility and All-America arms.

"The tempo we set to the left and right will be much lower and faster, from just about anywhere on the court," Shoji says. "Some hitters prefer it higher, but we don't have the luxury of setting the ball higher. We've determined this is the only way we can be very, very successful."

If the passing holds up and the new offense works, it will be a dramatically new look. Even if it doesn't, the 'Bows will barely be recognizable. Almost every position is up for grabs and the sense of urgency in practice, where each mistake might translate into a drop on the depth chart, could be suffocating.

It isn't, the players say, because the team has already formed a personality. It is exceedingly witty. Freshman and "all-around comedian" Tara Hittle is a major reason why, Sanders says

"It gets a little tense at times but we'll relax," junior Ashley Watanabe adds. "You can't work through it yourself, but we have each other to calm our nerves."

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