A year ago, the Rainbow Wahine had enough trauma for 32 volleyball seasons, or precisely how many Hawai'i teams Dave Shoji has coached. What salvaged their ninth consecutive run to an NCAA Regional was the 'Bows' brilliant close.

Now they are hoping for a more harmonious and healthy 2007. If it sounds like a holiday card, they are all for it. The season began yesterday and ends 10 days before Christmas.

The first official day of practice featured 16 players on the roster and a walk-on, two freshmen (Amanda Simmons and Stephanie Ferrell) not yet cleared to participate, and the announcement that the irrepressible Tara Hittle is captain.

Shoji expects to have Simmons and Ferrell, who didn't arrive in Hawai'i until last night, available soon. For their baptism of fire they will join in a free-for-all at every position but one.

Shoji says third-team All-American Jamie Houston, who averaged more than five kills as a sophomore and personally ruined fifth-ranked USC's season, is the only Rainbow assured of a starting position.

From there, it is anybody's guess. Last year's season-ending injuries to starters Nickie Thomas, Jessica Keefe and Hittle unintentionally created jaw-dropping depth. The graduation of four-time All-America setter Kanoe Kamana'o has left a huge void that will be filled by red-shirt freshman Dani Mafua or UC Santa Barbara transfer Stephanie Brandt — or both.

Shoji knows the position will not be as sophisticated as it was with Kamana'o, but promises patience. He is convinced Mafua and/or Brandt will be fine and is more concerned with ballhandling, the bane of last year's team.

"Our ball control was just day-to-day last year and I'm confident that will be improved," Shoji said. "We had a year to work on it. I think everybody is a little better. We've got two new people in the mix in Hittle and (Elizabeth) Ka'aihue. If they can produce like we think they can, then we'll be better. But they have to win jobs."

Shoji believes he can go four deep (Hittle, Keefe, Ferrell and transfer Aneli Cubi-Otineru) at the other left-side slot. Amber Kaufman returns on the right, with all four of those lefts and "maybe a middle or two" ready to take her place.

With all-WAC seniors Juliana Sanders and Kari Gregory in the middle, that position would appear invincible. But Thomas was starting there when she was hurt last year and Simmons could also be a viable threat.

The libero position is hardly immune to the competitive pressure. "All five are competing and starting at ground zero," according to Shoji.

The Rainbow Wahine, after absorbing all those injuries, their first Western Athletic Conference regular-season loss ever and three months of confusion last year, welcome the challenge. Asked what they would "wish" for for this season, all answer with requests of the heart.

"Technical stuff is not something you wish for, it's something you work for," explains Gregory, who "wishes" for good health, a win at Nebraska and no drama. "This is how it all comes together, the big package."

Keefe, optimistic after her second knee surgery, speaks of "a united goal, united language ... camaraderie and good team chemistry ... show up every day and have a clear, focused goal of what we're here to do and what we want to accomplish."

Houston also speaks of chemistry, teamwork and "great attitude." Mafua wants to feel a team "flowing together like we've been playing forever," with "positive energy" and no more heart-wrenching injuries. Cubi-Otineru, the 2003 state high school player of the year for Punahou, came home in part to be part of a "family-oriented" team where everyone can "succeed the way they want to" and "leave with happy memories."

The newly named captain thought long and hard before verbalizing her wish list. Hittle started with team unity, moved on to a "common goal/passion toward that common goal" and closed with "fun — everyone makes the most of their God-given talents and this wonderful opportunity."

She characterizes skills as coachable and the rest a "choice each individual has to make to be 'sold out' for the team — everything for the team."

If Shoji gets that, he believes it could be enough, even with Nebraska and Stanford prohibitive favorites to win the national title.

"We haven't been to a final four in three years, but I think this team has the potential to be there," Shoji said. "Last year we would have been more of a threat had we had everybody available. I hope we stay injury-free and make a run.

"We still have the athletes that can get to the final four. It's tough for everybody. How many years was the gap for UCLA before it went to the final four last year — 12 years? A program like that not getting there tells you something about how difficult it is. You can't make a run every year. It's just impossible now."

NOTES: Academy of the Pacific graduate Tri Bourne is the third Hawai'i player to make the final roster for the 2007 U.S. Boys' Youth National Team, along with Erik Shoji and Brad Lawson. The team will compete at the FIVB Boys' Youth World Championship this month in Mexico.

2007 RAINBOW WAHINE SCHEDULE

AUGUST

24-26-ASICS RAINBOW WAHINE INVITATIONAL

(Friday-5 p.m., Oregon State vs. Colorado State; Hawai'i vs. Michigan; Saturday-5 p.m., Michigan vs. Oregon State; Hawai'i vs. Colorado State; Sunday-3 p.m., Colorado State vs. Michigan; Hawai'i vs. Oregon State).

31-SEPT. 3-HAWAIIAN AIRLINES CLASSIC

(Friday-5 p.m., UCLA vs. Louisville; Hawai'i vs. Kansas State; Saturday-2 p.m., Kansas State vs. Louisville; Sunday-5 p.m., Kansas State vs. UCLA; Hawai'i vs. Louisville; Monday-5 p.m., Hawai'i vs. UCLA).

SEPTEMBER

6-8-WAIKIKI BEACH MARRIOTT CHALLENGE

(Thursday-5 p.m., Santa Clara vs. Wichita State; Hawai'i vs. Eastern Washington; Friday-5 p.m., Eastern Washington vs. Santa Clara; Hawai'i vs. Wichita State; Saturday-5 p.m., Wichita State vs. Eastern Washington; Hawai'i vs. Santa Clara.

14-*Idaho.

15-*Boise State.

20-*at Louisiana Tech.

22-*at New Mexico State.

24-*at San Jose State.

OCTOBER

5-*Nevada.

7-*Fresno State (5 p.m.).

11-*at Boise State.

13-*at Idaho.

15-*at Utah State.

21-at Nebraska.

26-*New Mexico State.

28-*Louisiana Tech (5 p.m.).

NOVEMBER

1-*at Nevada.

2-*at Fresno State.

8-*San Jose State.

11-*Utah State (8 p.m.).

15-17-WAC Tournament at Las Cruces, N.M.

20-21-Loyola Marymount.

29-30-NCAA first and second rounds (sites TBA).

DECEMBER

7-8-NCAA Regionals (sites TBA).

Dec. 13 and 15-NCAA Championship (ARCO Arena, Sacramento, Calif.).

* WAC matches

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

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.