Faith, hope and trust.

For Dave Shoji, the greatest of these may be trust. The Hawaii women’s volleyball coach begins his 42nd season this week seven hours and 8,291 miles away from Honolulu, in Rio de Janeiro, watching his sons Kawika and Erik play for the U.S. Olympic volleyball team.

It is the trust he has in his coaching staff — which includes two new assistants — that made the decision to miss the Rainbow Wahine’s first two weeks of practice a little easier. When Hawaii opens at 6:00 a.m. today at the Stan Sheriff Center, Shoji will be in the Maracanazinha Arena as the U.S. takes on Italy in a critical pool-play match.

Hard to be in two places at once, but the coach’s presence will be felt in the warm-up routines and practice regimen outlined and discussed last week. Second-year associate head coach Jeff Hall heads the staff that has new assistant Lindsey Berg, a three-time Olympic setter, and former UH All-American Tom Pestolesi as a volunteer.

“Obviously, I’d like to be there,” Shoji said before leaving last Wednesday. “All the practices are outlined, three days together as a staff to map out what’s going to happen.

“We have a lot of pieces in place, but we also have to replace two really good players. We’re coming off a great year and we have high expectations for the coming one.”

No. 7 Hawaii went 29-2 last season, seeing its 24-match win streak end when it fell in four sets to No. 3 Minnesota in the elite eight in Des Moines, Iowa. The Wahine lost two starters in All-America middle Olivia Magill and all-conference hitter Tai Manu-Olevao but return the bulk of their starting lineup, led by senior All-America opposite Nikki Taylor, who represented the U.S. at the Pan American Cup in the Dominican Republic.

Also back are All-Big West selections Kalei Greeley, a junior hitter; junior libero Savannah Kahakai; and sophomore middle Emily Maglio. Eight other letter-winners return, including senior setter Tayler Higgins, junior setter Kendra Koelsch and top defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson, a junior.

The intriguing battle will be at setter, where freshman Norene Iosia will battle for playing time. The Redondo Union (High) graduate was the California D-I Player of the Year as a junior and senior and PrepVolleyball.com’s national freshman of the year in 2012 and junior of the year in 2014.

Shoji said he doesn’t plan to redshirt any of the three.

“They all have skills that will help us,” he said. “Tayler has had the bulk of the work the past two years. Kendra’s had some great matches for us, is not afraid to play in big matches. Norene probably has the best hands of the whole bunch, but it will be a big transition for her.

“The best one will play.”

While senior Annie Mitchem is slated to replace Magill in the middle, the bigger question will be who replaces Manu-Olevao on the outside. Sophomore McKenna Granato has the edge in experience, appearing in 25 matches with four starts, but likely will be pushed by sophomore Casey Castillo — who played both left-side and opposite last season — and freshman Kirsten Sibley.

Hawaii has size, with six players listed at 6 feet 2 or taller, led by 6-5 redshirt freshman middle Natasha Burns.

Hawaii has depth, particularly at defensive specialist, with five at that position, including invited walk-ons McKenna Ross, daughter of former UH two-sport athlete Jason Ross and niece of former Wahine Nohea Tano; Emma Smith, all-league out of Mira Costa (Calif.) High in both indoor and beach volleyball; and Rika Okina, all-league and a valedictorian at Kalani.

Transferring home from Southern Utah is junior Faith Ma’afala, part of Kamehameha’s state championship teams in 2010 and ’13. She was a setter for two seasons with the Thunderbirds.

While the lineup is in question, the schedule isn’t. Shoji felt it was challenging and high-RPI worthy. The Wahine open Aug. 26 with Wisconsin in the Chevron Invitational, a field that includes Kansas State and Arizona; all opponents are coming off NCAA tournament appearances.

“I think our schedule sets up nicely, the competition is good and think it will be really good for our RPI,” Shoji said of the Ratings Percentage Index used by the NCAA selection committee to seed the tournament. “The opening weekend is very tough. Someone could leave 0 and 3.

“And hopefully the Big West will be better so that we don’t lose 10 spots when we play somebody (in conference).”

Despite reaching the regional final, tying for fifth nationally, Hawaii’s final RPI was 15. The Rainbow Wahine went 16-0 in conference play.

Shoji will be 70 in December, what he calls a “nice round number.”

Does it add up to calling it the end of his Hall of Fame career when the season is pau?

“I’m not going to make that call right now,” said Shoji, No. 2 in career wins (1,179) behind Penn State’s Russ Rose (1,189). “But obviously the end is going to be sooner than later.”

Shoji will be in daily contact with his staff over the next two weeks, trusting that the team is well prepared when he gets back on the 22nd, the day after the Olympic final. The hope is that he returns as the father of two gold medalists.

Year 42 will be waiting.