Dana Takahara-Dias expects improvement out of her basketball team, and so does everyone else around the Western Athletic Conference.

The Rainbow Wahine were voted fifth in both the WAC coaches and media preseason polls released Tuesday, UH’s highest projection in Takahara-Dias’ three years as coach.

A late-season surge in 2010-11 helped the Wahine finish with an 11-19 overall record and a 5-11 mark in the WAC, good for seventh place and salvaged pride.

UH lost five seniors from that team, including its starting backcourt. But behind preseason All-WAC sophomores Kamilah Jackson and Shawna Kuehu and a host of newcomers, the Wahine are gunning for their first winning record since 2006-07.

"I was very appreciative that both the coaches and the media have recognized the fact that we have improved our program," Takahara-Dias said. "I thought it was something that we’ve been building for a few years now. We are always mindful of the fact that a preseason poll is not nearly as important as where you finish. But it’s encouragement that we are continuing to improve."

That’s in large part due to Jackson, who finished fourth in the country in rebounding. As a true freshman she averaged a double-double of 11.9 points and 11.9 rebounds, breaking several school records in the process.

Jackson was named to the media preseason first team, and joined the versatile Kuehu on the coaches’ second team. Both players made the WAC All-Freshmen team last season.

"I didn’t even know about it. I think somebody told me on Twitter," the 5-foot-11 Jackson said. "It was a great feeling … but we definitely need to surprise everyone this year by finishing higher than fifth. We’re not going to let that dictate our season."

Perennial WAC contender Louisiana Tech was picked to win the league in both polls.

The preseason focus of the Wahine has been implementation of a new motion scheme brought in from Idaho by assistant Gavin Petersen.

"We’re really, as a coaching staff, very very pleased with the progress we’re making," Takahara-Dias said.

WAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

COACHES ALL-WAC PRESEASON TEAMS
First team: Jasmine Bendolph, Louisiana Tech; Ashlee Brown, Utah State; Whitney Jones, Louisiana Tech; Rosie Moult, Fresno State; Kayla Williams, Nevada
Second team: Devyn Christensen, Utah State; Kamilah Jackson, Hawaii; Shawna-Lei Kuehu, Hawaii; Taylor Thompson, Fresno State; Tabytha Wampler, New Mexico State
Player of the Year: Ashlee Brown, Utah State
MEDIA ALL-WAC PRESEASON TEAM
First team: Jasmine Bendolph, Louisiana Tech; Ashlee Brown, Utah State; Kamilah Jackson, Hawaii; Rosie Moult, Fresno State; Tabytha Wampler, New Mexico State
Player of the Year: Ashlee Brown, Utah State