Granato impressing Shoji so far

Volleyball packages are wrapped in different paper, some with edges not neatly folded, perhaps even a little torn, with holes that not even heavy tape can mask.

The package that is McKenna Granato is much like the one hidden behind the Christmas tree, waiting to be opened. The condition of the wrapping paper isn’t quite visible but, by all indications and expectations, it appears that the freshman outside hitter out of Punahou is a very welcome gift for the Hawaii women’s volleyball program.

Six practices in, Granato has shown the all-around skills and high volleyball IQ that led to her selection as the state player of the year and Under Armour All-American honors. While it will be hard to crack the Rainbow Wahine starting lineup, with five returning starters and two-time national junior college player of the year Annie Mitchem arriving Saturday, UH coach Dave Shoji anticipates that Granato — generously listed at 6 feet — could be the first of his three freshmen to see playing time.

“She’s probably the most complete player of the three,” Shoji said. “Good all-around skills, great arm.

“By today’s standards, she is a little undersized (at outside hitter) but she has the qualities much like Aneli (American hitter Cubi-Otineru 2007-09) with the same skill-set. She won’t be going over people but, with the great arm, she’ll certainly be able to go through and around them.”

If there is a weakness currently, it is her vertical.

“She needs to grow physically in the sense of getting stronger and her vertical will separate her from being a great player or not,” Shoji said. “But sometimes you don’t have to touch 10-2, 10-3 to be effective. Potentially, she’s got the skills we need and we hope that it transitions to D-I (NCAA Division I level).”

Granato is ready for the challenge, giving credit to her coaches for the mantra of “Work hard. Give everything.” Helping foster the humility and intensity of her game have been Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson at Punahou and, in club, Cubi-Otineru and current UH assistant coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, the latter a three-time Olympian.

“I think it was a huge help that Aneli was her coach, that she could see her at practice and play along side her, giving her an up-close look at what she wanted to be and who she wanted to be as a player,” said Fuamatu-Anderson, the 1993 NAIA Player of the Year during her All-American career at Hawaii Hilo. “And, of course, having Robyn as a coach.

“I do see similarities with her and Aneli. She has the same kind of fire and heart, she loves to compete. We’re going to miss her this season, not only because for the outstanding player she was but for her leadership qualities that pulled our team together.”

Granato was well aware of Hawaii’s tradition of excellence in volleyball growing up but didn’t attend many matches. She got her first taste in middle school when handing flyers out at a fundraiser for her then-club Jammers.

“We watched after and it was overwhelming to see so many people,” she said. “It’s super cool because that can help you grow as a player mentally. It helps you learn to focus on the game and let the rest of it go.”

Granato considered UC Santa Barbara and San Diego for college but said what helped her decide to stay home was coming to a Wahine practice prior to her junior year.

“It wasn’t originally my plan to come here but I liked the energy I saw at practice,” she said. “I really like Coach Shoji’s intensity. He’s still got it.”

Although the move to Manoa is less than 3 miles away from Punahou, the difference feels much like that of being “in town” and being home in Kailua. It’s another world coming from one side of the Pali to the other.

“I think the intensity and how much we physically worked out at Punahou has helped me be prepared for this level,” said Granato, whose likely major will be Family Resources. “At least I hope so.

“There’s always room for improvement and my coaches have ingrained in me that it means working hard and giving everything. I’m just taking it one day at a time. So far, so good.”