Forget the honeymoon. The marriage between new Hawaii head volleyball coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos and her players was all business from the moment they said “I do” on Tuesday, committing to the new season and to each other.

There was no sugar-coating the expectations, even minutes into the first drill run in humid Gym I. Sweat equity is going to be the daily payment over the next two weeks, one that will be clearly visible on the soaked practice clothes.

Warm-ups were basic, routine, formulaic. But there was a different intensity compared to the five years when Ah Mow-Santos was an assistant to Dave Shoji, a louder voice learned from more than a decade of being in the highly competitive gyms of the U.S. national and European professional teams.

One of the few things that hasn’t changed is that Hawaii walked into the first day of practice as the preseason favorite to win the Big West title. The Wahine have been the top choice of the coaches ever since moving back to the conference in 2012 and, except for 2014 when finishing second, Hawaii has matched the prediction.

But Tuesday’s excitement was not about an on-paper honor. It was about achieving on-the-court results, becoming that successful team that again will be crowned Big West champion.

“This team has a lot of potential,” senior middle Emily Maglio said. “We got a lot of good work in over the summer and I know we’re going to focus on basic skills. There will be a lot more running.

“For myself, I always want to improve each year. This year, I want to be more of a leader. I know that a lot of the younger girls are looking up to me.”

Two of the five freshmen are vying for the second middle spot: 6-foot-3 Sophia Howling and 6-2 Skyler Williams. Both are from southern California, Howling from Los Angeles and Williams from Lakewood.

“I’m super excited to be here,” Williams said. “It’s everything I expected and more.

“The biggest adjustment is the speed of the ball from club and high school.”

“The speed is the difference,” Howling added. “And this is super intense. I think we’re all going to get better.”

Improvement is the common thread, individually and team.

For senior Kendra Koelsch, it’s about finding playing time at whatever position she can. The 6-1 backup setter also has been training as a right- and left-side hitter.

“I have no clue where I’m playing,” she said. “I’m trying to make my team better. I want to be on the court, but if it’s being on the other side (in practice), then I’ll keep trying to be the best I can be so that we can be the best we can be.”

The Wahine came into the first practice a little banged up. Senior hitter Kalei Greeley was cleared to practice after offseason shoulder surgery, but a back issue had her sitting out Tuesday. Senior defensive specialist Gianna Guinasso and sophomore middle Natasha Burns also did not participate.

Freshman Shaney Lipscomb missed the first part of the first session to complete some physical testing. The 6-2 opposite, injured during club season four months ago, returned midway through the afternoon practice.

Greeley was optimistic about returning to the court as well as the season.

“I think this team has a lot of potential and our new players are finding themselves, trying to mold themselves into a team that has been together,” Greeley said. “There’s a lot of learning to do and I think Robyn is really good at teaching new players. I’m excited to see what Robyn can do.”

It didn’t take long for the Wahine to find out. Although Ah Mow-Santos was involved in some of the spring practices, Tuesday was her official first day.

“We’re not going to do any team stuff right now,” said the two-time All-America setter for Hawaii (1995-96). “We’re going to get more cardio in, do more passing, more defense.

“You got to feel it. You got to feel the hard work.”

Note

Officially joining the Wahine staff as a volunteer assistant on Tuesday was former Rainbow Warriors libero Nick Costello (2011-2012), who spent three seasons playing professionally in the Czech Republic.