So far so good for the University of Hawaii volleyball team. The season-opening Chevron Invitational ended with three Wahine victories — Sunday’s sweep of Arizona was surprisingly easy for UH and in particular its new starting setter, Mita Uiato.

As one fan said afterward, it was almost like she wasn’t there for much of the mismatch. That can be perceived as a compliment or something else.

"I see that both ways; I like both, being noticed and going unnoticed," Uiato said. "Give credit to the hitters. But I do like to be noticed, too."

Most eyes of Hawaii fans are on Uiato. They realize that how far this team goes will in large part be determined by her improvement as the season goes along.

Specifically on Sunday, a successful dump to give Hawaii a 7-3 lead in the first set made the Wildcats have to respect the lithe 5-foot-8 sophomore as an offensive weapon, not just a facilitator.

"I really asked her to use her dump more," coach Dave Shoji said. "When she gets tight sets she has to be a threat. That opens up our hitters."

And so it was, as Uiato found Kanani Danielson and Chanteal Satele on the outside and Danielson and Satele found the Arizona floor early and often. When the lead got to 18-8, not even a brief flurry of Hawaii mistakes mattered, as the Wildcats were way ahead on the path to destruction. The first set ended with the visitors committing two service errors, two overpasses, a miscommunication and an unsuccessful scramble. Can you say discombobulation? The second and third sets were mere formalities after that.

SOMETIMES WHEN it looks easy it’s because it is. Degree of difficulty rises drastically this week.

"I thought she had her pick of any of the hitters. They were all on. Next week’s going to be a lot more challenging," said Shoji, thinking ahead to the Hawaiian Airlines Classic starting Thursday, in which UH plays three ranked opponents: Ohio State, Long Beach State and UCLA. "(This) week she’ll have to make the right choices. She’ll have to pick the right hitter, the weak block. It’s like being an NFL quarterback. You have to make the decision in a split-second."

Sunday it was about spreading it around and keeping her teammates happy and opponents shell-shocked, not knowing where the next bomb would be launched from. Four Wahine were set 16 to 18 times each.

"We have so much depth and so many strong hitters, you want to give each one the ball," she said. "Tonight I had my choice."

UIATO’S SISTER, JOLYNN, was certainly overjoyed with Sunday’s win — she was a setter at Arizona State. "I come from a family of setters," said Mita, who went to Long Beach Poly, which is almost as well known for its volleyball success as its winning tradition in football. "My sister even married a setter, Kurstan Olaso (from Kamehameha)."

Uiato’s been a setter since she started playing volleyball in the fourth grade. She understands the responsibility the position entails. Ask her what was good and what needs to be worked on from the first three matches, and she goes straight to the work ahead.

"My connection with the outside (hitters) needs to get better. Also my blocking. As a smaller setter I need to find out more ways to help slow down (the attack)."

So far so good. Now here come the big girls.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783 or on twitter as @davereardon.