Hawaii senior middle blocker Annie Mitchem is expected to be out for up to six weeks after fracturing her pinkie finger on her left hand during Rainbow Wahine volleyball practice earlier this week.

The 6-foot-3 two-year college All-American out of Irvine Valley (Calif.) College suffered the same injury on her right hand last season and missed the last 12 matches of the year. Mitchem will have surgery next week.

“It’s the same injury, just a different pinkie,” said Mitchem, projected to start in the middle along with junior Emily Maglio. “It’s frustrating. I’m really bummed but glad it happened now instead of in the middle of the season.

“Surgery then a pin in for a few weeks and then have the doctor re-evaluate. I feel like it’s minor. it’s my non-hitting hand. It’s more frustrating because I never thought it would happen again.”

With redshirt freshman Natasha Burns still not cleared to practice, 6-3 sophomore Casey Castillo will continue training as a middle. Castillo was used sparingly as a middle, opposite and left-side hitter last season.