Sure, a trip to San Antonio would have been sweet.

But Kalei Adolpho doesn’t have time to dwell on what might have been.

A five-set loss to USC in the NCAA regionals on Dec. 9 both ended the University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team’s quest for a final four berth and triggered Adolpho’s transition into basketball mode.

A middle blocker on the volleyball court, the 6-foot-1 freshman hopes to give the Rainbow Wahine basketball team some added depth in the post beginning with today’s game against Portland State.

"Of course I’d love to be in the final four; that would be awesome," Adolpho said. "But I’m not, so I’m going to work hard in basketball, do what I can to catch up and help the team in whatever way I can this weekend and hopefully get better throughout the week."

Adolpho is expected to make her basketball debut when UH (2-7) meets Portland State (4-3) at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center in the opening day of the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Shootout.

UH faces Denver (7-3) on Monday and closes the tournament against UC Davis (6-3) on Tuesday. Those games tip off at 7 p.m.

While the Wahine return from a 15-day break since their win at Columbia on Dec. 3, Adolpho, a member of the Star-Advertiser’s Fab 15 as a Molokai senior last season, figures to have some rust to shake off in her first basketball game since a Division II state tournament loss to University High on Feb. 3.

Sophomore forward Vicky Tagalicod, a former Hilo High School standout, could also make her UH debut this week, more than three years removed from her last official game.

The boost in numbers comes as the Wahine adjust to the losses of two guards this month. Backup point guard Jasmine Ray was granted her release and UH announced that starter Shawna Kuehu will miss the rest of the season due to personal reasons.

"With the addition of Kalei and Vicky that’ll give us some options on lineups and rotations," UH head coach Dana Takahara-Dias said. "So we’ll have some flexibility."

Adolpho went through her first basketball practice last Wednesday and Takahara-Dias said it’ll take "baby steps" for Adolpho to get up to speed as she learns the system and adjusts from sliding along the net to running baseline to baseline.

"It’s been fun. I really missed playing basketball," said Adolpho, who had 54 kills and 56 total blocks as a reserve on the volleyball team. "It’s a little frustrating. I’m trying to pick up the plays as quick as possible, trying to get into shape as quick as possible, get back into shooting, just trying to speed the process up with everything."

When Adolpho was thrown into a scrimmage on Thursday, "she held her own and she looked confident and I think she’s excited," Takahara-Dias said.

Whether Tagalicod will be eligible in time for the tournament was still unclear entering the weekend. If not, she’ll be added for the Pepsi Rainbow Wahine Invitational starting Dec. 28.

Tagalicod earned All-State honors her first three years at Hilo, but tore her ACL in 2008. She sat out her senior year and tore the same ligament just before the start of her freshman season at USC.

"After that, thoughts went through my mind about continuing to play. I had a lot of doubts, a lot of negativity," Tagalicod said. "I talked to a lot of people and they helped me and gave me good advice."

She decided to transfer to UH after the fall semester last year. While NCAA rules required her to sit out a full year, she practiced with the Wahine through the first nine games this season.

"It’s a blessing to have school paid for and do the thing you love and get your education," Tagalicod said. "I thank Coach Dana and the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity."

Homecoming week

This week’s tournament brings Portland State sophomore forward Keaton McFadden back to Manoa. McFadden graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute, where she played for UH associate coach Da Houl. She also played for Takahara-Dias with Team Aloha for two summers.

McFadden has started the Vikings’ last three games and is averaging 2.3 points and 3.5 rebounds this season.