They get the bulk of the sets, are responsible for much of the ballhandling and set most of the blocks. Other than that, outside hitters are not important in volleyball.

Hawai'i has six players who will see action on the outside this season, which opens Friday against defending NCAA champion and top-ranked Penn State. Freshman Kanani Herring, most recently seen leading Kamehameha to the last three state championships, might see more action than any of the six.

Herring's precocious talent makes her the most compelling difference between last season and this, at least on the court. Coaches knew she came to college with world-class ballhandling skills. The state high school high jump champion has established herself as an offensive threat during two-a-day practices — when her footwork is flawless and she jumps up (Herring can touch 10 feet 3) instead of out.

"She is beyond her years in ball control, has great instincts and great reaction time," head coach Dave Shoji said. "She has become more confident. Her timing is better with the setters. She came in a little tentative, but after a lot of repetitions and situations she is really comfortable now. She knows when to bring it, when to play safe, when to hit high and when to hit sharp angles. And, she can go over the block when she gets a full head of steam."

Jamie Houston, third-team All-American as a sophomore and reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, is the team's only true terminator for now. With a new wrinkle in the offense Houston, who averaged 5 1/2 kills a game last season, will be the only outside hitter not to hit on the right this year, and she will swing more from the backrow.

Houston will probably swing more than anyone, period. She had 331 more hitting attempts than any other Rainbow Wahine last season, and more than all four middle blockers put together. What she needs her final year is to find that elusive consistency.

"She's coming off what was, on paper, a great year — second in the country in kills, WAC Player of the Year," associate coach Mike Sealy said. "But I think she knows it was a down year for her as far as what she could have done.

"I've seen her as an international all-world hitter. I've seen her hold her own in the passing formation. And I've seen her just dominate in the backrow. At the same time, I've seen her struggle with her hitting, miss very easy digs and struggle passing. With her, it's all from the neck up. We're trying to get her to quiet her mind and stay focused in the present. And fly."

She sometimes appears able. Houston can elevate over blocks, has developed a real repertoire of shots and is becoming more comfortable with the quick low sets Hawai'i is encouraging this season. She won't pass or play as much defense as in the past, but she will see as many sets.

Her hitting percentage was a respectable .260 last year, despite some abysmal nights. Aneli Cubi-Otineru and Tara Hittle, the other two starting hitters last season, had even lower percentages. Some of it was the passing and some the setting, but if Hawai'i's outside hits .219 again the Rainbow Wahine will not win much after the WAC.

Cubi-Otineru and Hittle are the versatile ball-control hitters teams covet, but are also searching for consistency — mostly on offense. Cubi-Otineru, with a rocket of a right arm, struggled with endurance in her first Division I season, particularly against bigger teams. Hittle's unorthodox arm swing forces her to hit the sweet spot every time, or the ball sails. Like Houston, most of her errors come on off plays.

Defensively, Cubi-Otineru and Hittle can be brilliant — so good that the one who doesn't start will probably play as a backrow sub or libero. Both also bring critical and contrasting leadership skills, Hittle with her upbeat nature and Cubi-Otineru silently slugging away.

Jessica Keefe has the dubious honor of being the most consistent hitter and blocker of the bunch, but with no true dynamic qualities. She is safe, smart, fundamentally sound and working diligently on more velocity.

That is not Stephanie Ferrell's problem. The redshirt freshman hits hard and loud, but as much as she clearly loves the game she needs time to develop consistency and all-around skills. She also has four upperclassmen ahead of her.

Shoji calls Ferrell Hawai'i's "most physical" player and Sealy describes her as someone "quick on her feet with a big body" and "really fun to watch." All agree some patience is required during her development.

"In time she will be a tremendous player for us," Shoji said. "She has some skills that she needs to get better at, namely passing and defense, but she will be given a shot if she can put the ball on the floor."

On offense, and defense. Blocking is the invisible art for an outside hitter and it really did disappear at times last season. After two seasons of being among the Top 10 in the country, the Rainbows plummeted to 56th. That, like the hitting percentage, has got to soar and Sealy believes the key is more mental than physical.

"We missed a lot of assignments just based on losing composure," he said. "We need to be a lot better."