As fifth-ranked Hawaii searched for a way to replace All-American Aneli Cubi-Otineru this season, it was understood that no one person could fill all her roles. Her volleyball instincts gave her a unique grasp of the game. So did her personality, which was equal parts nurturing and in your face.

As the Rainbow Wahine embark on their Western Athletic Conference season tonight against Utah State, with Nevada coming in tomorrow, they have found much of Cubi-Otineru’s big back-row game in a tiny package. Roosevelt graduate Emily Maeda, a 5-foot-6 defensive specialist who played only a few moments her first two years, has started the last 10 matches.

In Hawaii’s sweep of Brigham Young on Saturday, she had seven digs and four aces. She has 70 digs this season and has been aced just twice.

Her orders are easy.

"She’s got to pass three rotations and play defense," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "Pretty simple."

Her position is not.

Shoji wants her to pass everything she can touch, perfectly, and dig balls directly to the setter, even if they come off her face. Maeda has been a pleasant surprise.

"She had never played a real game … we kind of threw her out there," Shoji said. "I was happily surprised she held her own that first week. I thought she got better as she got more experienced."

Maeda’s learning curve remains steep. She was a high school hitter who "grew up at Booth Park" in a volleyball-mad family. She knew back row was her only shot at a volleyball future, so her parents and sisters served her silly when she decided to try and walk on.

"Getting myself up to the level of the other girls was the hardest part," Maeda said. "Learning technique and getting used to the pace of the ball was hard. I’d always take extra reps with my family, serve-receive reps a lot. I really felt I needed the practice to get good. I wanted to help the team and not shank balls in practice."

Shoji’s major Maeda criticism is that she is too nice and only too happy to "let someone else take the ball." Maeda is fighting those instincts with what he calls a "grinder" mentality.

"She’s got some resolve about her that allows her to stay out here and allows her to be competitive," he said. "There is something about her, just her nature. She’s so nice, but she is very, very determined."

It is a resolve based in faith and all those years of touching the volleyball as much as she possibly could. Maeda also is extremely analytical, a student of the game who can break down different styles in dizzying detail.

Of her teammates, Kanani Danielson comes from the highest altitude and with the most heat and variety. Maeda can break down every one of her shots and the angle of her wrist. Freshman Kaela Goodman jumps almost as high, has huge hang time and usually hits within three feet of the baseline.

Emily Hartong and Corinne Cascioppo share "bow-and-arrow" swings on the outside, with their arms waiting at the top before coming down. In the middle, Hartong’s arm moves "so fast you don’t know what is happening with the ball." In contrast, Brittany Hewitt hits a "really heavy ball" without much spin that "goes really fast where she wants it to go."

Hewitt hits across her body and "draws" the ball. Freshman Michelle Waber’s wrist goes away from her body so the ball "fades" right. "It fools people," Maeda says. "It looks straight on and the ball goes right. And she’s smart."

Maeda would make a great scout, watching for Alexis Forsythe’s "mean tips," Dani Mafua’s exceptional fast-tempo consistency and Mita Uiato’s acrobatic delivery. But the analysis is all part of her "grinder" game, as she tries to climb her learning curve. Nothing has come easily.

"It was really, really hard," she said. "A lot of times I probably wanted to quit it was so difficult. I’d have bad practices, especially when I was trying out. It was so discouraging. I’d come home and read the Bible and stuff. I know I can do all things with the help of God.

"I’m still getting used to feeling really comfortable out there. Still learning how to play the game."

Notes

» After a week’s absence, Hawaii moved back into first in national attendance. UH has averaged 6,257 in its first 11 matches, while Nebraska is next at 6,056 in four. Penn State is next, at 3,804.

» The Wahine’s first road match is Wednesday at New Mexico State. It will be shown live on ESPNU at 4 p.m. Hawaii time. Hawaii’s matches at Idaho (Oct. 21) and Utah State (Oct. 25) also are on ESPNU.