Wahine freshmen put in a full day

Everything old is new again.

It’s what keeps every season fresh, starting with the first of double-day practices.

It was no different for the Hawaii women’s volleyball team Monday, with two sessions of two-plus hours each stretched across some 12 hours in the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine got up with the chickens — even beating some of the roosters that frequent the arena parking lot — and left as the sun began to set on their inaugural day of being and becoming the 2015 squad.

The old included 12 returnees for coach Dave Shoji’s 41st season in Manoa. The new included three freshmen and first-year associate coach Jeff Hall. It was a pretty smooth first day, with the team going right into tactical workouts in the afternoon session.

“With so many players back, there’s not as much teaching early on,” Shoji said. “We’re working in the newcomers, but we’re ahead of where we are most years this early.

“Our newcomers all have the skills — it’s why they’re here. It’s going to be tough for any of them to break into the lineup, but like I told our team, the best players will play. Everyone is even right now and we’ll continue to evaluate the next few weeks. Certainly the returnees have the upper hand right now.”

Still, the freshmen hope to play more than the happy-to-be-here role.

The trio comprises one of the tallest classes in program history, with 6-foot-5 middle Natasha Burns from Vancouver, Canada; 6-3 hitter Casey Castillo from Oceanside, Calif.; and 6-foot hitter McKenna Granato, the state player of the year out of Punahou.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” Castillo said, “and it’s exciting.

“The learning curve is a big one, there’s a big transition to the speed of the offense. But the transition to living here was easy and (the freshmen) have become really close. My expectations for this year is to make strides in my play and mental toughness and be as good as I can be.”

The expectations are even higher for Granato, who knows first hand the tradition of Hawaii volleyball. The one thing she told the two other newcomers?

“They won’t believe the crowds,” she said. “It’s bigger than what you’ve played in front of in high school, it’s bigger than any other school. “I feel like we’re already fitting in and (the other freshmen) are good. There is good energy. My expectation for the season? To be on top in the Big West.”

Hawaii again was picked to win the conference and “that is our goal every year,” Shoji said. “Nothing changes year to year. We want to win. We think we’re going to win. You have to have that kind of arrogance going into the season and I don’t think our players think any different.”

Burns doesn’t. “I have high hopes and high expectations for this season,” Burns said. “Anything is possible.

“I’m here to learn and improve. It’s exciting to be here and I’m grateful for having such a good (freshman) class to come in with.”

That she is here was “the stars aligning,” she said, a combination of getting her release from West Virginia after a coaching change and a scholarship opening up when sophomore hitter Megan Huff went on basketball scholarship.

That there is another Canadian on the team in sophomore middle Emily Maglio has helped with her transition. “There’s definitely been some Canadian jokes,” Burns said. “When people ask what Canada is like, we just say, ‘maple syrup.’ “

Hawaii continues to await the arrival of junior Annie Mitchem, the two-time junior college national player of the year out of Irvine Valley College. The 6-foot-2 middle/outside hitter still has paperwork being processed and is expected in camp by next Monday.

The Rainbow Wahine open the season with the Chevron Invitational on Aug. 28-30. The field includes Oregon State, Wichita State and Idaho.