In one aspect, Alisha Glass was a bit jealous of her male counterparts during her volleyball career at Penn State.

Where Glass made one trip to Hawaii in a decorated four-year run with the Nittany Lions, the men were nearly annual visitors to the Stan Sheriff Center.

"They love it. They’re all, We’re going to Hawaii again,’ " said Glass, who could only respond with "I wish."

Glass, then a junior, helped Penn State sweep through the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic to open an undefeated 2008 season that culminated with the second of the Nittany Lions’ four consecutive national championships.

She made it back to Manoa on Wednesday as a member of the U.S. Women’s National team, retuning to the Sheriff Center for this week’s USA Volleyball Cup matches against top-ranked Brazil.

The U.S. team, ranked second in the world, kept to a pretty hectic schedule on Wednesday following a 10 a.m. arrival in Honolulu. They had just enough time to check in to their hotel before heading to the University of Hawaii campus for a crisp two-hour practice.

U.S. head coach Karch Kiraly wants to keep the team playing at a similarly swift pace for the 7 p.m. matches with Brazil on Friday and Saturday at the Sheriff Center, an approach tied to the setting skills of Glass USA Volleyball’s Indoor Female Athlete of the Year in 2013 and Courtney Thompson, a former Washington standout.

"All of us together believe we can run an offense that is faster and cleaner than anybody else in the world," Kiraly said. "We gave Brazil a lot of trouble with that last week so we’re looking to do that again this week."

Speeding up the offense was a priority for Kiraly after taking over the national program following a silver-medal showing for the U.S. in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

With Glass and Thompson running the offense, the U.S. opened the USA Volleyball Cup by converting on 36 percent of its attacks in a 25-22, 25-27, 25-19, 25-19 win over Brazil last Saturday at UC Irvine’s Bren Event Center. That figure jumped north to 45 percent in a 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 sweep of the two-time Olympic champions on Sunday at USC’s Galen Center.

"We were happy with the result, but I think even more happy that what we’ve been showing in practice is what we showed in the game," Glass said.

Glass was a three-time AVCA All-American at Penn State and contributed to three national titles. Her senior year included a 13-kill, 41-assist performance in a win over UH in the national semifinals prior to Penn State’s five-set win over Texas in the championship match.

She follows in a line of U.S. setters that includes Hawaii high school products Robyn Ah Mow-Santos and Lindsey Berg as the team works toward the 2016 Games in Brazil.

Glass didn’t have a chance to play with Ah Mow-Santos, "but I thought she was incredible."

"I got to play with Lindsey and was fortunate enough to see what she brought to the table," she said. "That definitely shapes me as a setter and the things I aspire to be.

"It’s definitely a lot to step into and I am grateful to have the opportunity to compete for that spot. We have a lot of great setters in the gym right now and we’re all just going to push each other and be supportive of whoever it is in 2016."

Glass said she admired Ah Mow-Santos’ leadership and court presence and Berg’s confidence, "and of course they have beautiful hands."

"I don’t know how you guys teach setting here in Hawaii," Glass said, "but it’s just beautiful."

Homecoming for Miyashiro

Kalani graduate Tamari Miyashiro, a member of the 2012 Olympic team, won’t be on the court for this week’s matches, but is enjoying a trip back home as part of the team.

"It was kind of a last-minute thing to come help the team with certain things," Miyashiro said. "I think I can provide that connection with the state and the team."

Miyashiro is rehabbing a back injury and participated in drills in the first half of Wednesday’s practice. She is easing her way back toward competition with a goal of being "within striking distance" of the FIVB World Championships in September.

"I’m cleared for everything, now it’s just a matter of getting some range of motion back, some flexibility," she said. "My strength is close to where I was, then there’s the whole aspect of actually playing with the speed of the game here. It’ll take some time and let nature take its course and not rush it."

Shoji shirts on sale

T-shirts commemorating Dave Shoji’s 40th season as UH head coach will be sold at the U.S.-Brazil matches Friday and Saturday. The shirts are $20 (cash only) and come in white and gray. Sales run 6-8 p.m. in front of Gate B at the SSC. Supplies are limited and based on availability.