Good is good, but great would be better. And that is the goal.

After six days and hundreds of reps, No. 18 Hawaii leaves its first week of practice behind knowing a little more about itself, and with a vision of what the 2015 edition of the Rainbow Wahine can become.

“What I like is seeing how everyone is meshing, how the freshmen are integrating into the team and being part of our chemistry,” said outside hitter Tai Manu-Olevao, one of two seniors this season. “They (the freshmen) weren’t here for the (spring) Texas match or on the Europe trip, but they’re here now and are doing whatever we need them to do to be part of the team.

“We miss the people we lost from last year’s team, but this is this season. We are our own team and it’s cool to see the kind of team that we’re developing into.”

That would be an experienced and tall one, with five returning starters and a freshman class that averages about 6-foot-3. That height and depth will be added to two-time national junior college player of the year Annie Mitchem (6-2), who was scheduled to arrive Saturday night in Hawaii and could be cleared to practice by Monday afternoon.

With such a large returning group — 12 of 16 from 2014 — there was less teaching and learning since opening on Monday. The Wahine had already moved into scrimmaging as coach Dave Shoji started looking at his established starting lineup and substitution patterns.

“I think our starting group has been pretty established already,” Shoji said. “We’re looking at who we can put in in certain situations and maybe to give people rest.

“We’ve had some good days this week and some not so good days. One thing is we’re a little beat up already and tired. I’m hoping the day-and-a-half of rest we’ll have us better on Monday.”

Hawaii had Saturday afternoon and all of Sunday off. This week’s schedule will include a community service project Tuesday and a Green-White scrimmage Saturday.

Among the probable starters is middle blocker Olivia Magill, the team’s other senior and an AVCA All-America honorable mention. At 6-1, she is the shortest of the middles, which includes 6-2 sophomore Emily Maglio, 6-5 freshman Natasha Burns and maybe the 6-2 Mitchem, who also could be used as an outside hitter.

“It’s definitely helping us, having more tall people on the team,” said Magill, in her second year at Manoa after transferring from Arizona. “It’s helping with our blocking and with our hitting when having to hit against a bigger block.

“I’m really excited to be a senior and so far so good. This is an experienced group. Last year there was a big group of new people (nine newcomers) and this year there is more cohesion. Our new players are working really hard and seem to be jumping on really quickly.”

Freshmen hitters Casey Castillo (6-3), McKenna Granato (6-0) and the 6-5 Burns in the middle have pushed the veterans.

What first-year associate coach Jeff Hall has seen after six days is an improvement in blocking.

“We’re starting to hone in on blocking schemes, getting over the net more often,” he said. “Traditionally Hawaii has had smaller teams compared to the Big Five conferences and, come NCAA tournament time, have had a hard time matching up.

“Our size is helping our hitters work on their range. They’re hitting not where they’re facing but hitting around the block or utilize the block as their friend.

“As coaches, you’re pushing them all the time to be good all the time. I want them to string together five great practices, not just have one. For me, good is not good. Great is what we’re looking for all the time.”

Consistent setting will be key and junior Tayler Higgins and sophomore Kendra Koelsch have shown improvement from last season.

“It is better but still needs work,” said assistant coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, a former All-America setter for the Wahine. “There’s always room for improvement.”