There will be little time for baby steps, regardless of how many are needed to be taken this season for No. 20 Hawaii. The Rainbow Wahine will be running for their NCAA tournament bid lives from the opening whistle, beginning with the Texaco Invitational, which opens today at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The field includes two others ranked in the AVCA Division I Coaches Preseason Poll — No. 13 UCLA and No. 22 San Diego — as well as Marquette, Hawaii’s opening opponent tonight. All four teams advanced to last December’s NCAA tournament and finished in the top 43 of the Ratings Percentage Index, the computer-generated ranking system that incorporates a team’s strength of schedule. (UCLA at 8, USD 17, Hawaii 27 and Marquette 43).
The opening tournament looks to be the toughest overall of the three Hawaii has scheduled, but the Hawaiian Airlines Classic and Outrigger Resorts Challenge that follow the next two weekends will be no walks in the park. Both the HAL and Outrigger include a ranked team — No. 23 Utah and No. 10 BYU, respectively — as well as four others — Western Carolina, South Dakota, Baylor and Nevada — that could untie Hawaii’s RPI laces and NCAA at-large bid hopes should the Wahine not win the Big West’s automatic berth.
The Wahine take a break between tournament play and defense of their conference crown with a pair of matches against a rebuilding Northern Arizona squad, the second of which is preceded by the annual alumnae contest.
Hawaii again is the lone wolf in the nine-team Big West. With two exceptions, playing the Wahine in the Stan Sheriff Center is the lone match of the week for the conference teams traveling to Honolulu, while Hawaii will be playing on back-to-back nights all four weeks.
And, Hawaii again will be the last team in the country to play an away match. After five weeks at home, the Wahine finally get on a plane and are at Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 29 and UC Riverside on Sept. 30.
Senior night for six Wahine — Clare-Marie Anderson, Kalei Greeley, Gianna Guinasso, Savanah Kahakai, Kendra Koelsch and Emily Maglio — comes three weeks before the NCAA tournament’s Selection Sunday on Nov. 26. Hawaii hosts rival Long Beach State in the regular-season home finale on Nov. 4 — a match that will have a decidedly different feel to it after the retirements of both UH’s Dave Shoji and The Beach’s Brian Gimmillaro — and has bye weeks that sandwich the last of the Big West matches: at UC Davis on Nov. 16 and at UC Irvine on Nov. 18.
Hawaii has only missed the postseason once in its proud history that began in 1974, the injury-plagued 1992 campaign where the Wahine finished 15-12. The Wahine know that to make sure that doesn’t happen a second time, they have to step it up every night.
2017 SCHEDULE
All times Hawaii time
TEXACO INVITATIONAL
Aug. 25-27
25: UCLA vs. San Diego, 4:45 p.m.; Marquette at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
26: UCLA vs. Marquette, 4:45 p.m.; San Diego at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
27: San Diego vs. Marquette, 2:45 p.m.; UCLA at Hawaii, 5 p.m.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES CLASSIC
Aug. 31-Sept. 3
31: Utah vs. South Dakota, 4:45 p.m.; Western Carolina at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
1: Utah vs. Western Carolina, 4:45 p.m.; South Dakota at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
2: Western Carolina vs. South Dakota, 1 p.m.
3: Utah at Hawaii, 4 p.m.
OUTRIGGER RESORTS VOLLEYBALL CHALLENGE
Sept. 7-9
7: Baylor vs. Nevada, 4:45 p.m.; BYU at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
8: BYU vs. Nevada, 4:45 p.m.; Baylor at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
9: BYU vs. Baylor, 3 p.m.; Nevada at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: Northern Arizona, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16; Alumnae match, 5 p.m.; Northern Arizona, 7 p.m.
BIG WEST CONFERENCE
Sept. 22: UC Irvine, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23: UC Davis, 7 p.m.
Sept. 29: at CSU Fullerton, 4 p.m.
Sept. 30: at UC Riverside, 4 p.m.
Oct. 6: UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7: Cal Poly, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13: at Long Beach State, 4 p.m.
Oct. 14: at Cal State Northridge
Oct. 20: UC Riverside, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: CSU Fullerton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: at Cal Poly, 4 p.m.
Oct. 28: at UC Santa Barbara, 4 p.m.
Nov. 3: Cal State Northridge, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4: Long Beach State, 7 p.m. (Senior Night)
Nov. 16: at UC Davis, 5 p.m.
Nov. 18: at UC Irvine, 5 p.m.
NCAA TOURNAMENT
Dec. 1-2: First-second rounds, TBA
Dec. 8-9: Regional semifinals-final, TBA
Dec. 14-16: Championship semifinals-final, Kansas City, Mo.
All home matches at Stan Sheriff Center
TKM
TEXACO INVITATIONAL
Marquette, San Diego, UCLA
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES CLASSIC
Utah, South Dakota
Western Carolina
OUTRIGGER RESORTS CHALLENGE
Baylor, Nevada, BYU
NORTHERN ARIZONA
The Lumberjacks (24-8, 12-4 Big Sky), who finished second at the 2016 Big Sky Tournament, were picked to finish fourth in the conference. NAU is young (11 freshmen and sophomores) and inexperienced (just two players have competed in at least 200 sets.
Anchoring the Lumberjacks’ defense is senior libero Brooke Donnelly, who started all 32 matches and played all 118 sets, averaging 2.20 dps. Also returning are second-team all-BSC middles Brittni Dorsey, a junior and sophomore Abby Akin.
Ken Murphy enters his fifth season at the Flagstaff, Ariz., campus. The Lumberjacks last visited the Stan Sheriff Center in 2014, losing both matches in straight sets.
CAL POLY
The Mustangs (18-9, 11-5) are seeking their first Big West title since going winning back-to-back ones in 2006-07. Third behind Hawaii and Long Beach State the past two seasons, Cal Poly has a legitimate shot to move up at least to No. 2 with the return of all-conference first teamers in 6-foot senior setter Taylor Nelson (BWC-leading 11.64 aps) and 6-2 senior outside Raeann Greisen (3.44 kps).
Also back is 6-1 junior outside Adlee Van Winden, the 2015 BWC Freshman of the Year, who had a team-leading 3.07 kps as a sophomore.
The big news in San Luis Obispo is another Van Winden joining the team in Adlee’s younger sister Torrey, a transfer from UCLA. The 6-3 sophomore outside hitter earned all-region and all-conference first-team honors with 2.87 ops and 0.65 bps when helping the Bruins reach the NCAA regional final.
Coach Sam Crosson begins his sixth season.
LONG BEACH STATE
Hawaii’s rivalry with The Beach won’t be the same with the retirement of the Big West’s coaching deans: the Wahine’s Dave Shoji and the 49ers’ Brian Gimmilaro. However a new one begins when two of the top setters in those programs — Hawaii’s Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (1993-96) and The Beach’s Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer (1990-93) — begin their rookie head coaching campaigns.
The 49ers (21-10, 13-3), second to the Wahine three of the past five seasons, may be hard-pressed to earn their first BWC title since 2014. The Beach has seven freshmen and five transfers, with all three of its setters — Alexis Patterson (UNLV), Mary Jo McBride (Long Beach City) and freshman Mina Andjelkovic — in their first season with the program.
Andjelkovic, from Serbia, is one of seven foreign nationals on the roster. Returning for the 49ers are first-team all-conference middles in Ashley Murray, a senior, and sophomore YiZhi Xue, as well as sophomore libero Hailey Harward, a conference all-freshman team pick.
UC SANTA BARBARA
The Gauchos (17-12, 8-8) shared the Big West crown in 2013 but haven’t won it outright since 2004. UCSB could make a run for it behind outside hitters Lindsey Ruddiness, the reigning BWC Freshman of Year and honorable mention All-American, and senior Chanel Hoffman.Also returning are junior libero Emilia Petrachi, who led the league in digs (4.66) and middle Rowan Ennis, an all-freshman team pick last year.
The graduation of Hannah Juley leaves juniors Lexi Rottman and Annie Hasselmann to battle it out for starting setter.
Nicole Lantagne Welch enters her fifth season.
UC IRVINE
The Anteaters (13-18, 7-9) may be hard-pressed to get above .500 this season but, as they showed last season when knocking off Long Beach State twice — the only team to do so — they have the potential to get hot. UCI again will ride the arm of all-conference opposite Harlee Kekauoha, a two-time All-BWC first teamer who averaged 2.54 kps. Her 51 aces led the conference, ranking her 12th nationally, and she was one of nine players in country to record three triple-doubles.
Success is squarely in the hands of junior setter Ali Koumelis, who was out most of last year with an illness. She is the only setter listed on the UCI roster for second-year coach Ashlie Hain.
UC DAVIS
The Aggies (14-15, 7-9) were one of five Big West teams not to finish above .500 last season but could this year with a junior-heavy roster. Among the seven juniors back are two of the top kill leaders in outside hitters Emily Allen and Brianna Karsseboom; dig leader libero Malia Bolko; and block leader Kelechi Ohiri. Junior setter Maddie Merlino led Davis in aces and assists.
Dan Connors enters his fourth season with job security, having signed a five-year extension in February.
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE
The Matadors (11-17, 7-9), with six of seven starters back, could be the dark horse of the Big West. Leading the way are junior hitter Aery Owens, an All-BWC first teamer; senior libero Katie Sato, second in the league in digs; and senior setter Lauren Conati. Also back is middle Melissa Eaglin, an all-freshman pick who was sixth in the BWC in blocking. and sophomore setter Kamala Makekau-Whitaker (Kamehameha-Hawaii).
With the retirement of Shoji and Gimmilaro, CSUN Jeff Stork has the longest tenure. He enters his 16th season at the San Fernando Valley campus.
UC RIVERSIDE
The Highlanders (8-20, 3-13) are in a rebuilding mode with eight freshmen and junior hitter Kaiulani Ahuna (Kamehameha-Hawaii), a transfer from Eastern Washington. The highlight of UCR’s schedule is the Fullerton-UCR Classic over Labor Day weekend, the first home tournament since 2007 and the first ever to be played in the SRC Arena.
Among the Highland returns is junior setter Chelsea Doyle, a 2015 All-BWC freshman team selection.
Michelle Patton-Coleman enters her fifth season.
CAL STATE FULLERTON
The Titans (6-24, 1-15) won the Big West in 2010 but it’s been downhill since then, including a combined 3-45 record the past three years. Among Fullerton’s 10 returnees is junior hitter Shimen Farad, a BWC honorable mention last season who had 14 double-doubles.
Senior reserve setter Katie Roux will be challenged by sophomore transfer Nastassja Bowman, a reserve on SMU’s American Conference championship team in 2016.
Ashley Preston enters her third year with the Titans.
AVCA COACHES DIVISION I PRESEASON TOP 25
(First-place votes in parenthesis; LY—Last year’s record; FR—Final ranking)
School Points LY FR
1. Texas (25) 1,547 27-5 2
2. Stanford (35) 1,533 27-7 1
3. Washington (2) 1,370 29-5 7
4. Minnesota (2) 1,349 29-5 3
5. Nebraska 1,313 31-3 4
6. Penn State 1,249 24-10 10
7. Wisconsin 1,145 28-5 5
8. Kansas 1,085 27-3 12
9. Creighton 1,007 29-7 9
10. BYU 975 29-4 8
11. North Carolina 939 29-4 11
12. Florida 925 27-4 15
13. UCLA 866 27-7 6
14. Kentucky 654 23-8 23
15. Florida State 641 26-6 13
16. Michigan 615 24-11 14
17. Michigan State 523 25-9 19
18. Oregon 498 21-10 21
19. Missouri 424 27-6 16
20. Hawaii 343 23-6 17
21. Ohio State 332 22-13 18
22. San Diego 287 24-6 22
23. Utah 203 20-12 25
24. Arizona 174 20-15 20
25. Purdue 147 19-14 NR
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Southern California 105; Western Kentucky 98; Dayton 71; Washington State 67; Iowa State 62; Colorado State 55; Pittsburgh 49; Baylor 37; Kansas State 36; Boise State 21; Wichita State 7; Texas A&M 6; SMU 2
BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Hawaii (6) 78
2. Cal Poly (2) 71
3. Long Beach State (1) 65
4. UC Santa Barbara 49
5. UC Irvine 41
6. UC Davis 39
7. CSUN 33
8. UC Riverside 19
9. CSU Fullerton 10
