Ideally, tonight's volleyball opener against 19th-ranked Pepperdine will answer more questions than it initiates for the 2006 Rainbow Wahine.

Hawai'i, ranked seventh in the preseason, is a relatively well-known quantity. Coach Dave Shoji returns four starters, including setter Kanoe Kamana'o, a three-time All-American. The trio expected to replace last year's seniors are also familiar.

Shoji has had this year's depth chart detailed since December, when the 'Bows were bumped from the NCAA regionals by Missouri. The chart has yet to be written in indelible ink. It has been tweaked by injuries, but Shoji's most pressing concern is his team's passing.

"It feels like we're opening off-Broadway," Shoji said. "I don't know what to expect. I know we can play at a high level, but if we start to get shaky, anything can happen. I'm talking about ball control and passing. That's something every team goes through every game, hoping their passing will hold up. I'm just not positive about it — who will be in there and who will be on. I think we can hit and block. That part is usually there every night."

His team is less pragmatic about what it would most like to see tonight.

Sophomore Jamie Houston is looking for "the crowd to go wild." Others are looking inward. The predominant feeling seems to be that there is something more important than winning at stake tonight.

"We've talked a lot about getting an identity, our team being cohesive and having a personality," Kari Gregory said. "I'd really like, win or lose, for our team to find that against Pepperdine. I'd like to feel a lot of confidence in each other."

Added Tara Hittle: "I just want to see us playing together. You know the feeling when everyone out there is together? It feels so good. I'm not saying I want to lose, but even if we were to get beat and we played the best we could together, I'd be satisfied."

Kamana'o wants to see "attitude and energy" and senior Sarah Mason "chemistry." Associate coach Kari Ambrozich is looking for "efficiency, competitiveness and character."

Shoji said his starters tonight will be Kamana'o, with Jessica Keefe opposite. Mason, projected to start on the right, sprained her left ankle Saturday and has been limited in practice this week. Hittle and Houston will be on the left side. Sophomore Nickie Thomas will make her first collegiate start in the middle, with Gregory opposite. Raeceen Woolford will be the libero, with Elise Duggins and Jayme Lee getting a look.

Those are not necessarily Shoji's starters for tomorrow's sequel with the Waves.

There is depth in the middle, with four players very close. Junior Juliana Sanders, an all-WAC first-team selection last season, is struggling with sore shins that kept her from practice last week. Freshman Amber Kaufman is lacking only experience.

That might be Thomas' most striking weakness now as well. She made just cameo appearances last year. After fall and preseason practices, Shoji characterized her as No. 1 on the depth chart, with the elevation and potential offense of Victoria Prince, last year's second-team All-America middle.

"Nickie is just untested," Shoji said. "When the bright lights are on we're hoping she'll respond, but she is really inexperienced."

As is the passing, particularly with Mason hobbled. She doesn't expect this sprain to slow her nearly as much as last year's right ankle sprain, suffered in the season opener and tweaked twice during the season.

"At this time last year I wasn't even able to walk," Mason said. "This is not as serious."

NOTES

Alicia Arnott, a starter in 2004, has decided to redshirt this season and work on her game so she can have a shot at starting in her final season next year. Freshman setter Dani Mafua will also redshirt. Freshman Amber Kaufman still could redshirt, but UH coach Dave Shoji adds that "if we have another injury, she could also be in the game."

Kelly Ong, a walk-on defensive specialist the past two years, is expected to rejoin the team next week after clearing up some administrative work, according to Shoji. Ong did not participate in preseason practice this year.

2006 RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

August

25-26—Pepperdine.

September

1-3—Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic (Friday, UCLA vs. Colorado, 4:30 p.m., followed by Hawai'i vs. Florida; Saturday—Florida vs. UCLA, 4:30 p.m., followed by Hawai'i vs. Colorado; Sunday—Florida vs. Colorado, 2:30 p.m., followed by Hawai'i vs. UCLA).
Sept. 7-9—Waikîki Beach Marriott Volleyball Challenge (Thursday—Stanford vs. Northwestern, 4:30 p.m., followed by Hawai'i vs. Fairfield; Friday—Stanford vs. Fairfield, 4:30 p.m., followed by Hawai'i vs. Northwestern; Saturday—Fairfield vs. Northwestern, 4:30 p.m., followed by Hawai'i vs. Stanford).
14-15—Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
23—*Fresno State.
29—*at Fresno State.
30—*at San Jose State.

October

6—*Utah State.
8—*Nevada, 5 p.m.
9—*Boise State.
12—*at Louisiana Tech.
13—*at New Mexico State.
16-17—Notre Dame.
27—*Idaho.
29—*San Jose State, 5 p.m.

November

2—*at Nevada.
4—*at Utah State.
10—*Louisiana Tech.
12—*New Mexico State, 5 p.m.
15—*at Boise State.
17—*at Idaho.
22-24—WAC Tournament (Lawlor Events Center, Reno).

NCAA Championship

Nov. 30-Dec. 3—First and Second Rounds (sites TBA).
Dec. 8-9—NCAA Regional at Stan Sheriff Center.
Dec. 14,16—NCAA Championship (Omaha, Neb.)

* —WAC matches

All home matches start at 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center, unless noted