FIRST IN A SERIES

What sets Courtney Lelepali apart in this 2013 avalanche of Hawaii volleyball seniors is she has been here from the beginning.

"It was always my dream to be a Rainbow Wahine," Lelepali said. "I was that little girl who came to every game. I’ve had idols before. Just to see how this program developed, I wanted to be part of it."

Friday, when the 11th-ranked Wahine open their season against NCAA champion Texas, Lelepali will be an essential part of Hawaii’s success in her final season. She is the lone keiki o ka ‘aina among the seniors, though Kaela Goodman, Mita Uiato and Kristiana Tuaniga possess strong ties.

Lelepali came home from Southern Utah to play for her dream team in front of — and with — family and friends. UH junior Kalei Adolpho is a cousin, as was former teammate Lizzie Blake.

In high school, Lelepali and her parents rose long before the sun to leave their Waianae home at 5 a.m. — "fortunately we had the zipper lane" — so she could attend Punahou. There, Courtney soaked up the education in the classroom and on the court that she felt would allow her to live out her dreams.

When she came home three years ago and worked her way onto the court for the first time it was all she had expected all those years — "but better."

"When I was on the court I told myself this was my dream and it came true," Lelepali recalled. "Words can’t even explain how I’ve wanted to be in this program. Now that I’ve got the opportunity, I am truly blessed."

That is not the usual sentiment of a part-time player who goes all out at every 6 a.m. practice just to play a few back-row rotations. Lelepali is a defensive specialist in a state and on a team with a ton of them. Her greatest gifts often go unnoticed because they involve demeanor and confidence and her lifelong passion to play on this court, with these Wahine.

"Courtney is a really good teammate, one of those kids you like to have around," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "She works hard, is a positive influence on everybody else, pumps people up. She’s vocal, energetic all the time."

She is also talented enough to make the tough pass, the big dig and the timely ace and played all three defensive positions last year (left, middle and right). To play more in her final season she simply needs to be more consistent, according to Shoji and volunteer assistant Kaleo Baxter, who works with the back-row "smurfs."

"Courtney has all the skills to crack the starting lineup," Baxter said. "It comes down to focusing on that one play every single time and bettering the ball. As a role player, you have to make the ordinary plays look easy and make the spectacular plays. Having a strong mental game is definitely important when you’re a role player. It’s equivalent to coming off the bench cold to serve one or two balls. You have to be mentally tough and Courtney is extremely tough mentally and focused."

Adolpho’s advice to her cousin is simple: Relax and be yourself.

Lelepali has taken it all in, and added an element.

"This year, I mainly want to have fun, enjoy each moment," she said. "It’s coming quick. I want to take in every opportunity."

That starts with Texas and will end ideally sometime in December, with six other seniors who offer the Wahine what Lelepali calls a "different dynamic," much like their fans provide something no other team experiences. They are why Lelepali left a school where she played a major role to come home and live her dream.

"Away, I grew so much," she said. "It was a good experience. But here is family. I have that support, not just from my own family, but the support of my teammates. What this program develops … making the team your family and the fans here being so welcoming. The fans were great when I was away, but just the atmosphere you get, the aloha spirit here is so strong, the bond is so strong."

Baxter and Adolpho both see teaching in Lelepali’s future, in a classroom or on a court, probably surrounded by children.

"She’s really good with kids … just has a niche in Hawaii with little kids, helping them grow and she definitely has patience with them," Baxter said. "I’d like to see her as an elementary school teacher. I think she’d be a good one."

Lelepali has a little time to figure all that out, and a little more than three months to live out the rest of her childhood dream.

Notes

Hawaii All-American Emily Hartong was named one of 30 candidates for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award in volleyball. The award is given to an individual who "excels both on and off the court."

The Rainbow Wahine will play against at least six other candidates this season, including Texas All-American Bailey Webster in their opener Friday.

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season. Those 10 will be put on a ballot distributed nationwide to media, coaches and fans. They select one candidate who "best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition."

Only NCAA Division I seniors are eligible. They must have achievements in those four areas of excellence.

Hartong was also Big West Player of the Year and a Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week last season. She led the Big West in kills (4.66) and points (5.29), with totals among the top eight nationally, and ranked sixth in hitting percentage (.286).

The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the NCAA Championship in December. Hawaii’s Kanani Danielson was the recipient in 2011.

» Hawaii coach Dave Shoji was hoping to name his starters Tuesday. That didn’t happen.

"I felt I should have something," Shoji said after another exceptionally competitive practice, "but at this point it’s not clear-cut and everybody has been interchangeable. Whoever starts Friday … probably some of them won’t end the match. All the outside players play all the positions so it’s not a concern because they’ve all worked together at some point."