All-American Angelica Ljungquist leads the Wahine as
they chase the national crown. Star-Bulletin

Two All-Americans and a strong supporting cast.

There will be few surprises in the lineup, even fewer questions, for the University of Hawaii women's volleyball team this year. A preseason No. 1-ranking is evidence of the overwhelming faith in the Wahine nationally.

There are no doubts that Hawaii will be good. Very, very good.

But will the Wahine be good enough? To win the national title? To lay to rest the ghosts of last year's glorious 31-0 ride that bucked them off one win short of a final four berth?

Hawaii climbs back into its collective saddle this week, opening the season on the road Friday at the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators Volleyball Classic in Normal, Ill. The Wahine are still digging out the burrs from last December's harsh dumping by Michigan State in the regional final.

The sting of that defeat has lessened each day since Dec. 8. The desire to be in Cleveland this December to play for the national title has grown each day in inverse proportion.

"We want to go all the way this time," said senior All-American Angelica Ljungquist, one of five returning starters. "We want to finish what we started last year. We had a great season last year but it didn't end the way we wanted. This year, we want to finish the unfinished business."

Ljungquist has had plenty of on-the-job training, starting every match (92) in the last three years. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker, working on her fourth All-America honor, has recovered from a stress fracture - and eventual bone crack - in her left foot that hobbled her toward the end of last season.

Three months in a cast has strengthened her foot and her desire. It could be a metaphor for the Hawaii team: stronger, healthier, hungrier.

If it's possible, All-America setter Robyn Ah Mow is even smoother, more fluid. Her style continues to resemble that of Joyce Kapuala Kaapuni, the setter for Hawaii's national championship teams of 1982 and '83.

That resemblance is echoed in the similarities between the '82 and '96 teams.

Both had returning All-Americans at setter (Kaapuni and Ah Mow) and middle (Deitre Collins and Ljungquist). Both were expected to be at the final four the previous year, only to be upended by Chuck Erbe-coached teams (Southern Cal in 1981, Michigan State in 1995).

"It's funny how history seems to repeat itself," said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji, entering his 22nd year with a record of 590-121.

Shoji can only hope that fate will be kind and history will be repeated fully, resulting in a fifth national title. It's been a long drought between banners for a program that won four within nine years (1979, '82, '83 and '87).

"I'm very optimistic about this year," said Shoji. "The level of intensity is much, much higher. We have more quality athletes than we've ever had. The attitude is really good. I like my team."

There's very little not to like. The Wahine lost only one starting player to graduation, captain Jenny Wilton.

Besides Ljungquist and Ah Mow, returning to their starting roles are hitters Therese Crawford and Joselyn Robins. Also back are middle blocker Cecelia Goods and defensive specialist Nalani Yamashita, who became a dynamic front row-back row combination.

Four other players with at least one year's experience add to the team's depth. Senior hitter Chastity Nobriga more than likely will move into the right-side spot vacated by Wilton; Shoji said he may have lost a better ballhandler (Wilton) but gained a better blocker (Nobriga).

Sophomores Kelli Cordray (right side) and Lori Garber (middle) could crack the starting lineup while Lori Higashida (defensive specialist) will be used sparingly.

Hawaii got an unexpected boost during the off-season with the transfers of two players from Division I schools. Waimea High product Leah Karratti is back home after two years as a Weber State hitter and sophomore setter Nikki Hubbert has become a Wahine following a season at Washington State.

Hubbert joins freshman Keala Nihipali as the heirs apparent to Ah Mow. Four other freshmen add depth to a crowded bench: Kapu Elkington (blocker), Jennifer Roberts (middle), Heidi Ilustre (left side) and Aven Lee (left side).

Moving from the Big West to the Western Athletic Conference could provide more of a challenge off the court (travel logistics) than on the court. The biggest competition should come from No. 10 San Diego State and No. 19 Brigham Young.

Yesterday, Hawaii was picked to win both the Pacific Division and overall WAC titles in a vote of the league coaches. The Wahine received 15 of 16 first-place votes as well as 15 votes to win the WAC title. The Aztecs received the remaining vote for Pacific champion and WAC titlist.

The Wahine will meet at least six other teams ranked in the preseason Top 25, starting with No. 11 Florida on Friday. Hawaii could also see defending national champion Nebraska, ranked fifth, on Saturday, depending on the outcome of the Friday's matches at the NACWAA Classic.

Hawaii also returns its No. 1 crowd that shattered NCAA attendance records last year with 145,006. Over 5,000 season tickets have been sold.

The table is set. The question is: When and where will the last course be served?

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