For the University of Hawai'i volleyball team, the best news was no news.

No academic-related casualties.

No significant injuries.

"We're OK," said head coach Mike Wilton, whose Warriors open the season with tonight's match against Ohio State in the Outrigger Hotels Invitational. "There were no curveballs over the Christmas break."

The Warriors have suffered off-the-court setbacks in each of the past few offseasons. Last season, outside hitter Matt Vanzant, who was poised to have a breakout year, was ruled to be academically ineligible. (His picture had to be airbrushed off the 2008 media guide cover.)

That set in motion a domino effect that left all of the pieces in a heap. Middle blocker Dusan Matic moved to the outside, struggled and then decided not to show up anymore. Starting setter Sean Carney, who had just recovered from a fractured finger in his right (hitting) hand, was tried as an outside hitter. Seven different players were used on the outside. Opposite hitter Jim Clar and middle blocker Matt "Dragon" Rawson did not last the season because of shoulder injuries that required surgery. Erratic passing led to poor sets that led to dismal hitting that led to the first losing season of Wilton's coaching career.

"It was a nightmare," Wilton said, "an absolute nightmare."

But now, Carney promised, this will be a happy new year.

"The personnel is different, the attitude is different," Carney said.

Two freshmen — left-side hitter Steven Hunt of Toronto and opposite attacker Gus Tuaniga of Hemet, Calif. — were brought in to stabilize the passing.

"They decided they weren't going to let me run marathons (chasing passes) this year," Carney said. "We worked on our passing game. We made it a focus and emphasis."

Left-side attacker Joshua Walker has been relieved of his passing responsibilities and freed to swing away from every rotation.

"I can set Josh from the service line if I wanted to," Carney said.

Rawson, who has recovered from surgery to his right shoulder, and Steven Grgas will be the starting middles tonight.

"I think we have better chemistry," said Rawson, who rested his shoulder yesterday. "We all get along, and we're all buddies now."

Clar, who was voted as the team captain, said: "We have a different culture this year. Coach (Wilton) has been really adamant about the way we act off the court. It's really helping the way we're practicing and playing."

Wilton said the test comes tonight when the freshmen play "in front of the TV cameras for the first time. It will be interesting to see how they'll do."

But Tuaniga and Hunt have experience in high-level competitions.

"These guys came in ready," Carney said. "They're not just high school guys waiting to play when they're juniors. These guys are on the court for a reason. They're big-time players."

Carney noted there is more talent on the roster. Jarrod Lofy, a second-year freshman who started in fall exhibition matches, is a skilled middle blocker. Clar can play all three outside positions. Mike China, who will be the serving specialist, is ready to push libero Ric Cervantes.

"Our practices are a lot better than they were last year," Carney said. "We're having a lot more competitive practices. It's not the first team beating up on the second team. It's a battle every day."

Ohio State, which played in last year's NCAA final four as the Midwest champion, is a mystery date. The Buckeyes no longer have last year's top setter, opposite attacker and libero.

Setter Steve Kehoe, a third-year sophomore, takes over the offense. His sister Bryn played at Stanford, and his parents were both college volleyball players.

"Steve's been around the game for a lot of years," Ohio State coach Pete Hanson said.