Consider this a do-over.
The 31st Hawaiian Airlines Classic was blown away by Hurricane Lane a year ago with UCLA and Gonzaga not making the trip to Honolulu. Kansas State — already on Oahu — stayed and played Hawaii twice, defeating the Rainbow Wahine both matches.
Take Two opens Friday with a competitive field, headlined by No. 13 Washington and No. 21 San Diego. Then there’s Hawaii, which is receiving votes in the Top 25, and St. John’s, back for its second trip, the Red Storm’s first since 2014.
The Rainbow Wahine are seeking an 11th title in their signature tournament and first since 2013. Third-year coach Robyn Ah Mow — the most outstanding player of the 1996 HAL Classic — has a new-look team with nine newcomers among 16 players.
There’s excitement, optimism and questions all rolled into one heading into Friday’s opener with the Toreros.
“We tell the girls that everyone is telling us how talented we are, but we still have to play to our potential to reach that talent,” assistant coach Kaleo Baxter said. “It’s up to the girls and us (coaches) to push them to reach that.
“For the first time in a long time, no one knows what’s going to be our starting lineup and I think that’s exciting for the volleyball community. I couldn’t tell you if we’re going to run a 5-1 or 6-2 (offense with one or two setters). We’re pretty excited.”
The nine newcomers include four transfers and five freshmen. All have the potential to contribute.
Senior Norene Iosia has the most experience, starting all but four matches during her first three years. But whether she’s running the offense in a 5-1 or playing on the outside, as she did last season in a dual role and 6-2 offense, is one of the questions that likely won’t be answered until the year is over.
“The biggest difference from the past few years is we relied heavily on one or two arms,” Baxter said of Hawaii’s attack. “This year, we have five, six arms … even more with girls coming off the bench if someone’s not having a good night.”
That balance may include going without a libero, something that Hawaii used a bit during its Green-White scrimmage last Friday. It allows for a five-attacker offense.
If there is an immediate goal for the Wahine, it’s to end the losing streak in season openers. Hawaii last won its first match in 2015 when sweeping Idaho.
A look at the Wahine opponents (last year’s record in parenthesis):
No. 13 Washington (20-13, 10-10 Pac-12)
The Huskies have all seven starters back from their NCAA Sweet 16 team, led by senior hitter Kara Bajema, a third-team all-America selection. The Dawgs were picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12; they tied for sixth last season.
Others starters back for UW are junior hitter Samantha Drechsel, middles Avie Niece, a senior, and Lauren Sanders, a junior; sophomore setter Ella May Powell and senior libero Shayne McPherson. The Huskies were swept by Penn State in the NCAA third round.
Keegan Cook, in his fifth year at the Seattle school, has scheduled what is being called the toughest nonconference schedule in program history. The Huskies have five matches against teams currently ranked in the Top 25 — three in the top 10 — before starting Pac-12 play, all but one on the road.
Washington is in American Airlines Arena just once between now and Oct. 11, following its trip to Honolulu with ones to Iowa City, Iowa; Omaha, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; then conference matches at Washington State, Stanford, USC and UCLA. The lone home match is Sept. 21 against No. 5 Wisconsin; the Huskies play the Badgers in Madison two nights earlier on the 19th.
No. 21 San Diego (18-13, 13-5 West Coast)
The Toreros return four starters from their NCAA Sweet 16 team, the fourth time the program had advanced that far. Leading the returnees is junior hitter Roxie Wiblin, the team leader in kills (308), who played with the U.S. Collegiate National Team this year.
Also back are sophomore hitter Katie Lukes, third on the team in kills (229), senior middle Megan Jacobsen and senior setter Anna Newsome. Wiblin, Lukes and Jacobsen all were name to preseason All-WCC.
First-year Wahine Kyra Hanawahine, Jolie Rasmussen and Brooke Van Sickle — will see their former Oregon teammate Camryn Tastad, a sophomore libero, across the net in Friday’s opener.
USD opened 2018 with two losses at Washington and ended it in the NCAA tournament third round, swept by Wisconsin.
Jennifer Petrie is in her 21st season on the Presidio. The Toreros have been successful in their last two trips to Honolulu with wins over the Wahine, a five-set upset of then-No. 11 Hawaii in 2013 and a sweep in 2017,
St. John’s (23-12, 12-6 Big East)
The Red Storm, picked to finish third in the Big East, had three players named to the all-conference preseason team. Both senior setter Erica Di Maulo and sophomore hitter Efrosini Alexakou were unanimous choices and were joined by senior libero Amanda Sanabia. Alexakou, the reigning Big East freshman of the year, led St. John’s with 336 kills and Sanabia, who set a program single-season record with 660 digs last year, is the reigning libero of the year.
Di Maulo (Italy) and Alexakou (Greece) are two of eight international players for reigning conference coach of the year Joanne Persico, in her 26th season at the New York City school. Also on the roster is sophomore defensive specialist Sheena Yoshioka (Punahou), an all-conference academic selection who played in all 35 matches in 2018 with four starts.
St. John’s season ended in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, a 3-1 loss to the College of Charleston. The 23 victories were the most for the Red Storm since 2007.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES CLASSIC
At Stan Sheriff Center
Friday
>> St. John’s vs. No. 13 Washington, 4:45 p.m.
>> No. 21 San Diego vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Saturday
>> No. 13 Washington vs. No. 21 San Diego, 4:45 p.m.
>> St. John’s vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Sunday
>> No. 21 San Diego vs. St. John’s, 2:45 p.m.
>> No. 13 Washington vs. UH, 5 p.m.
Radio: Hawaii matches, 1420-AM/92.7-FM
TV: Spectrum Sports
Series history: UH leads San Diego, 3-2; St. John’s, 1-0; Washington 9-8
