Hawaii freshman middle Natasha Burns is out indefinitely after fracturing her right hand in practice late Tuesday.

The 6-foot-5 Canadian from Hamilton, Ontario, saw a specialist Wednesday afternoon and returned to the Stan Sheriff Center with a green-and-black soft brace on her right hand. Burns said she was told she’d be out between 6-8 weeks for a full recovery but the injury will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

“It does hurt,” Burns said. “But now I can focus more on strength-training while it heals. This is my first injury and hopefully my only one in college.”

“It’s unfortunate,” Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji said. “It was kind of a freak thing but it happens quite frequently in volleyball.

“Obviously it’s a setback for her. She was looking good in practice and had made good progress.”

The injury leaves Hawaii with three middles: senior Olivia Magill, sophomore Emily Maglio and junior Annie Mitchem. Mitchem, a transfer from Irvine Valley (Calif.) College, was only cleared to practice Tuesday. 

No. 18 Hawaii opens the season on Aug. 28 against Idaho in the Chevron Invitational.