Some two months after their final match left them sleepless and stunned in Seattle, the Rainbow Wahine celebrated their 2010 volleyball season Tuesday with 185 of their closest friends at Outrigger Canoe Club.

One was Gov. Neil Abercrombie, fresh off his first State of the State address. He opened the banquet by thanking the team for "representing all that we are." When he was done, he looked for Hawaii coach Dave Shoji and asked, seriously, "Can I stay?"

He joined in on a night that honored all the Wahine accomplished in a 29-3 season, with two of the losses in the last three matches. With six freshmen, they rose as high as No. 3 in the rankings and did not lose a set in the Western Athletic Conference regular season.

Their 62-set winning streak is fifth-best in NCAA history. It ended when they were upset by Utah State in the WAC tournament championship. It was Hawaii’s first loss in the tournament in 13 years.

UH dropped to No. 15 in the NCAA tournament seedings and was sent away a seventh straight year. After sweeping Portland State in the first round in Seattle, it was swept by Washington, which took out second-seeded Nebraska the next week.

"I promise we’ll be better next year," Shoji said Tuesday. He also joked that "about 21 players want to try out for the libero position" vacated by senior Elizabeth Ka’aihue. His home schedule will include Arizona, Wichita State, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Pacific and Notre Dame. It closes with Hawaii hosting an NCAA regional in December.

The banquet also provided seniors Dani Mafua and Ka’aihue  — described as "Fire and Nice" by emcee Lori Santi  — another opportunity to say goodbye. Along with their thank yous, Mafua told Shoji it was "a blessing to be part of your legacy" and Ka’aihue announced her engagement to Sean Stoltzman.

The seniors’ reach extended beyond the court. They also helped the team to a 3.08 cumulative grade-point average.

In the fall, Hawaii will have at least five more new faces, with freshmen Jane Croson, Jade Vorster, Ginger Long, Kalei Adolpho and Monica Stauber on the team. Vorster, a 6-foot-5 middle from Florida, is already here. She graduated from Timber Creek High last month, hitting .461 her final season. She is enrolled at UH.

Vorster is participating in the spring season with the Wahine  — weight training and individual workouts started last week  — and was at the banquet. She spent more than one night last fall watching Wahine volleyball matches streaming across her computer until 1 a.m. and is already in awe of the crowds.

The transition has not been as difficult as it is for some. Vorster was born in Boston and also lived in Philadelphia before moving to Orlando. Her father is from South Africa and her mother lived in Guam.

"I am not afraid to travel," she said. "My parents were all for me going the distance."

Tuesday’s banquet confirmed her choice.

"I did not get misty eyed for four years in high school, not even at my own senior night," Vorster said. "I did tonight."

Carey promoted at Cal

Former Wahine setter Jen Carey has been promoted to assistant coach at Cal. She has been the Golden Bears’ director of operations the past two years. Cal reached this year’s national championship match.

Carey was an assistant at Georgia Tech in 2007 and ’08, helping the Yellow Jackets to back-to-back 20-win seasons. She also served as director of volleyball operation at Texas A&M.