Outside hitters: Who will step in and step up?

Outside of replacing retired head coach Dave Shoji, the biggest shoes to fill for Hawaii will be those worn by two-time second-team All-America opposite Nikki Taylor. The question is who can step up to become the go-to, bail-us-out hitter able to terminate the play even on the off-ball.

Those 490 points — over 30 percent of UH’s offensive total — will have to be made up somehow and from somewhere. The answer appears to be: by committee.

With no true experienced right-side hitter, the Rainbow Wahine may be running things more on the left. It falls to junior McKenna Granato to lead the charge.

The Punahou School product picked up valuable experience over the summer as a member of the U.S. Collegiate National Team. She was second to Taylor in kills (2.90 kps to Taylor’s 4.54) and is expected to be one of the Wahine’s primary passers.

Injuries have hampered coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos’ decision process. Senior Kalei Greeley (offseason shoulder surgery) is looking to return to the form that had her a front-row starter for over a season. Relegated to the back row last year to stabilize passing, Greeley would signal stability on the left side with her return.

Also on the left is sophomore Kirsten Sibley, who battled through illness and injury last year but showed promise.

As for the right, there are as many question marks as options. Senior Kendra Koelsch, primarily the reserve setter and blocking sub her past three seasons, is transitioning to hitter, something that also will include being in the passing rotation.

Versatile junior Casey Castillo, who has played three positions in two years, was told by Ah Mow-Santos that she would be a pin hitter but may move to the middle during the early part of the season due to the lack of experience and injuries at the position.

Sophomore McKenna Ross, coming in as a defensive specialist, has transitioned to outside hitter, mostly on the right. Freshman Shaney Lipscomb, a true right-side, hasn’t had much of a chance to show what she is capable of after not being cleared to fully practice until last week.