University of Hawai'i women's basketball coach Jim Bolla isn't given to flamboyant displays of emotion, but nothing draws a quicker smile to his otherwise stoic face than pure athleticism.

And when that athleticism is paired with size, tenacity, a feel for the game or, good heavens, all of the above, well, keep the sunglasses handy.

Bolla's preferred style of play — a fast-breaking offense and aggressive amoeba defense — requires players with speed, agility and sound decision making to properly function. And while last year's team was populated with good, solid players, those players didn't necessarily match the style Bolla has been trying to implement since he first arrived four years ago.

This season, however, a team of rapidly maturing returning players welcomes an incoming class oozing with size, athleticism and scoring potential.

And, after just three days of practice, a cautious but obviously pleased Bolla was all smiles.

"We're way more more athletic than we've been," Bolla said after the team's first two-hour practice on Friday. "Even our big people can get up and down the floor."

With freshman Katie Wilson out for the season with a shoulder injury, the Rainbow Wahine were forced to make do for most of last season with just two true post players, all-conference performer Tanya Smith and reserve center Ilwona Zagrobelna.

The mid-season arrival of Tara Hittle from the volleyball team and the development of junior college transfer Ebony Jones eased the burden somewhat, but team was never able to gain traction in Western Athletic Conference play.

This year's team has large shoes to fill with the graduation of Smith, Zagrobelna, starting point guard Amy Kotani and versatile swing player Saundra Cariaga, but it just might make up in talent what it lost in experience.

Freshman center Rebecca Dew, a native Floridian who was raised in New Zealand, has the look of a future All-WAC player.

At a solid, well-proportioned 6-foot-3, Dew, who is being groomed as the starting center for the New Zealand national team, runs the court exceptionally well and has a soft scoring touch near the basket. Her work ethic was evident in the first day of practice as she ran each drill at full speed.

"Rebecca is really mobile for her size," Bolla said. "She's just young. Everything we throw at her, she takes and uses it to get better."

Bolla is equally excited about the arrival of freshman Breanna Arbuckle, a 6-0 forward from Arizona.

Quick and explosive, Arbuckle flashed an impressive array of offensive moves in her first full practice with the team.

"She can touch the rim," Bolla said. "She's just a really good athlete. She'll make some mistakes, just like any freshman, but if we can put her with other people who can run, she'll be really good for us."

Freshman guard Briauna Linton, who is especially dangerous taking it to the basket, is another player capable of creating scoring opportunities for herself.

Junior college transfer Sarah Ilich, a native of Australia, arrived late and is still working her way back into playing shape. A 6-2 forward/center, Ilich also runs the court well and can score near the basket.

Jennifer Hamilton, a 5-6 guard from Diamond Ranch, Calif., is seen as talented long-term prospect at point guard. Hamilton, 17, graduated a year early and Bolla said he intends to bring her along slowly to ensure a smooth transition to college.

While Dew is penciled in as a likely starter, Bolla said he will likely depend on his returning players to shoulder most of the early load.

After an up-and-down first season, point guard Keisha Kanekoa looks ready to assume the lead guard position full time. While she will need to cut down on her turnovers, Kanekoa has the size, speed and aggressiveness to create for herself and her teammates. At Friday's practice, Kanekoa showed off a deadly mid-range jumper, which should complement her set-up and driving abilities.

Versatile junior Dita Liepkalne is likely to start at the other guard spot, though her health remains a concern. Liepkalne spent the summer in Hawai'i rehabbing a knee injury that forced her to sit out several games last season. An effective spot-up shooter and baseline operator, Liepkalne was still favoring the knee in the first practices.

"It's something we're going to have to keep an eye on," Bolla said. "If we have to keep her out of practice a little bit or sub her out and get her some rest, that's what we'll have to do. We don't want a situation like last year when she'd play a game then be out for the next two weeks."

Sharp-shooting Megan Tinnin, a 5-10 junior, will also be counted on for increased production. When she's on, Tinnin is capable of scoring in bunches from beyond the arc; she's also a strong rebounder and defender.

Jones played her best basketball down the stretch last season and, with a full-year of Division I experience under her belt, is expected to be a much more consistent presence on both ends of the court. Jones, who patterns her game after Lisa Leslie, is effective in the post, particularly as a weak-side scorer.

Leilani Galdones started well last season, but saw her role reduced by injury and inconsistency. At her best, she's a lights-out shooter from long range who can also handle and distribute the ball effectively.

Wilson appears fully recovered from her injury. Bolla said he hopes to use her for three- to four-minute stretches during games to rest his frontcourt starters. At a solid 6-foot-3, Wilson combines a powerful presence in the middle with a sweet shooting stroke that extends to the 3-point line.

While much could change before the Rainbow Wahine play their first game against Toledo on Nov. 15 at the Bank of Hawai'i Invitational in Hilo, Bolla said he's pleased by what he's seen of his team so far.

"We've got three offensive sets that we've already got in," he said. "The big thing is we want to get the transition game going. We want to push the ball. Even if we don't run a play, just by pushing the ball up, we create pressure on the defense. It makes them have to make an adjustment.

"We're just a lot more athletic this year," he said. "We're happy with what we've got."

NOTES

Cariaga returns: Saundra Cariaga, whose eligibility expired last season, is back as a fifth-year student assistant. She helped ensure a strong turnout — literally — at this year's practices by overseeing off-season workouts consisting of running, running and, well, more running. During the season, she'll assist with administrative duties and video.

Third assistant coming soon: The UH athletic administration is expected to make a decision on a third assistant coach for women's basketball sometime within the next two weeks.

The program has been short staffed for more than a year.

In an unusual twist, Bolla has not been consulted and will not provide any input into the selection because his wife, Dallas Boychuk, is one of the applicants.

"This is to protect all of us," Bolla said.

A decision was expected last month, but an unspecified procedural problem delayed the process.

Director of operations sought: The posting for the long sought-after women's basketball director of operations position closed Monday. The new hire will free Bolla's assistants from many of the administrative duties they've been forced to cover over the years.