"Waiting to Exhale."

It is more than a movie title. It describes Annie Mitchem’s hold-your-breath journey from Friendswood (Texas) High to Hawaii connected by an All-American detour to Irvine Valley (Calif.) College.

The Rainbow Wahine volleyball program has rarely taken a player from a two-year school, considered a gamble when looking at the adjustment to Division I both athletically and academically. But sometimes it is that rare athlete who is worth the roll of the dice, which is why the 6-foot-3 middle hitter is part of the No. 16 Hawaii team preparing for this week’s Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge.

Mitchem was an academic non-qualifier out of high school and "I don’t know if I had (been eligible) that I would have passed my classes here," Mitchem. "I think IVC was the best thing that could have happened, the best decision I ever made."

In volleyball years it seems like a decade since Mitchem gave her oral commit to Hawaii in 2011. The memories are blurred as to how IVC became a viable alternative but the end result was she wound up under the wing of Lasers coach Tom Pestolesi, a former All-American for the Rainbow Warriors and, by family extension, that of his wife, former Rainbow Wahine Diane Sebastian Pestolesi.

The bond the three formed during Mitchem’s three years at IVC was tight, so tight that the Pestolesis — both of whom played for Shoji when he coached both programs — consider her a surrogate daughter. It went beyond Mitchem helping the Lasers to the state title, where IVC went 27-0 with Mitchem capping her career with 24 kills, six solo blocks and seven digs in the championship match.

"Sure she helped us volleyball-wise but that’s not the reason we feel lucky that she crossed our paths," said Pestolesi, the reigning AVCA two-year college coach of the year. "She’s a really neat kid and she became part of our family.

"She was a Volleyball magazine Fab 50 but had to go to a two-year school to have any chance of making it to the next level. We had her for three years (redshirting as a freshman) and it was rough the first year. She got through it, got some academic confidence and things starting to fall into place."

That included the three-year process of becoming eligible to play for her dream school.

"I don’t know why but I always wanted to come here," said Mitchem, who also helped IVC to two state sand titles. "Hawaii always stood out, not only for volleyball. I love the beach.

"And I love volleyball, the flow of the sport. It’s fun and it’s challenging."

The challenge has been getting up to speed with Division I-play. Mitchem did not attend UH’s second summer session, as most of the Wahine did, nor was she cleared to practice until eight days into fall camp while the somewhat complicated process to verify her eligibility continued.

She practiced but was not cleared to play until some three hours before Hawaii’s season opener against Idaho on Aug. 28. Shoji immediately texted Pestolesi when he got the news.

"It had been such a process for three years that, until we found out she was cleared, it felt like we all had been waiting to exhale," Pestolesi said. "It was a lot of work for a lot of people who were involved to make this happen but we’re so proud of what she has done. It’s an awesome journey and we’re glad to be a part of it."

Hawaii fans have only had brief glimpses of Mitchem’s abilities as she works herself into playing shape and playing at D-I. Also a former high jumper in high school, she’s appeared in six matches as a reserve middle and has taken just 26 swings, with nine kills matching her nine blocks.

While Mitchem was a six-rotation player at IVC, Shoji wants her to get comfortable in being in the front row first. Running the step-out or slide play hasn’t been a big part of the Wahine offense this season and although that is something at which Mitchem is adept, it requires timing and connecting with the setter.

"Right now, she’s getting used to our system and needs to find her timing with our setters," Shoji said. "It’s a lot different and she’s being asked to do things she didn’t have to do in JC or in club.

"Physically, there’s no question that she’s a DI player. Anyone can see that. It took three years and it was a long haul to get her here. But we think it was worth the wait. "

Mitchem agrees. She is still overwhelmed by the size of the crowds — "We had maybe 100 people watching at IVC," she said — and was surprised when recognized by the hotel valet when first arriving with her family last month.

"The crowds are awesome and the one against UCLA (8,667 tickets) was amazing," the sociology major said. "To have so many people cheering for you … and it was so loud when we made that comeback (down 24-20 in Set 4, losing 28-26). We were so close (to going five sets). We’ll be ready soon.

"My goal right now is to be a better, stronger volleyball player, and help however I can when I get in. I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit better but it will take a while with more reps and more practice. Florida (Friday) will be a test but I feel we could be a Top 10 team this year."

Mitchem will see her former setter, Haley Jones, across the net when Hawaii plays San Diego State Thursday. Behind the two, the Lasers went 51-2 the past two seasons.

While Mitchem and Jones have begun their future at the D-I level, they’ll also see part of their past Thursday. Tom and Diane Pestolesi are coming to watch the two former Lasers.

"Those two are just special kids, not just when it comes to volleyball," Tom Pestolesi said. "It’s not often that a little college like IVC gets to have two kids playing at DI, let alone going against each other. This is special and we wanted to be there.

"We’re so happy for Annie getting the chance to play at Hawaii, getting the experience of a big-time program. This will change her life."