Shoji looks at new wrinkles

Spoiler alert: Texas Tech, the volleyball team the Rainbow Wahine play tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center, lost to Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday.

Tonight’s match is an exhibition, which eases the impact of the Division II Sea Warriors’ "upset" of a D-I team that was 14-18 last season. Spring results count for nothing, but provide coaches an opportunity to work on everything.

Hawaii finished last season 27-3 and ranked 11th in the country. It expects seven seniors back in August. One is All-American Emily Hartong, whose sore ankle has prevented her from jumping since the Wahine lost in the NCAA’s second round more than three months ago.

She will only play back row tonight, which prevents UH coach Dave Shoji from looking at a new wrinkle he is contemplating for next season. That starts Aug. 30 when the Wahine host NCAA champion Texas.

"I want to see some offense on the right," said Shoji, who should become his sport’s winningest coach in September. "It’s too bad Emily has been down because we really want to look at her on the right. She gives us that option, if we can get enough offense out of the left. That could be Tai (Manu-Olevao), (Ashley) Kastl, Nikki Taylor, Ginger (Long) …somebody opposite Jane (Croson). If we can get production there, I think we can be much better with Hartong on the right."

Hartong characterizes her "ankle issues," which lingered through a breakout season where she took 1,300 swings, as a "contusion" caused by overuse. It is "not severe enough for surgery and they can’t fix it." Rest is best, and Hartong is happy concentrating on passing and defense for now. Even encouragement from the national program to train this summer might not sway her.

"I don’t know about the USA stuff," the senior said. "I probably won’t be doing that just to get ready in time for double-days (in August) and everything."

"She wants to be healthy, have a great senior year," Shoji said. "That’s foremost in her mind. She’ll have an opportunity in January to either play pro or go with the national team. The way she feels now, it’s all about us in the fall."

Hawaii has six other hitters this spring, but there is no backup for middles Jade Vorster and Kristiana Tuaniga with Kalei Adolpho playing basketball. Mita Uiato, an honorable mention All-American as a junior, is the only setter until freshmen Tayler Higgins and Kyra Goodman get here.

If Uiato goes out for any reason tonight, assistant coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos — a three-time Olympian — is next up.

Punahou graduate Kristina Kam, who would have been UH’s eighth senior, is transferring to Azusa Pacific for her final two years of eligibility, with Shoji’s blessing. Azusa competes in the National Christian College Athletics Association. It has 20 wins each of the past nine years.

In four years at UH, Kam redshirted, lost another season to injury and collected just five digs the past two years. The popular defensive specialist played a major role off the court, in particular organizing practice for those who didn’t travel.

"It was a very hard decision," said Kam, who might get a shot at playing front row at Azusa. "I loved the program. I didn’t want to transfer. I want to play for Hawaii, but I want to play."

This is the Wahine’s second week of spring practice. They train another month and finish with an exhibition at San Diego State April 12, and at a tournament the next day.

"Right now Tai has probably been the one that has made the most progress," Shoji said. "The back row players have all gotten better. It’s been a time of repetitions and now we’re trying to put it on the floor. We haven’t put it on the floor yet. We’re doing reps but it’s not translating into looking good in scrimmages."