Fall camp for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team is in full swing as the team gears up for its season opener at the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Invitational. HawaiiAthletics.com breaks down the 2011 team by position, here highlighting the middle hitters.

Outlook Part 1: Outside Hitters

Starters Returning: Brittany Hewitt, Emily Hartong
Starters Lost: None
Letterwinner Returning: Kristiana Tuaniga
Newcomers: Jade Vorster, Kalei Adolpho


Brittany Hewitt returns for her junior year and will be key to the Rainbow Wahine's success. In 2009, she was named WAC Freshman of the Year and followed that up with a second team All-America selection last year and the CVU.com Blocker of the Year honor. Hewitt led the nation in blocking (1.68 b/s), while also averaging 2.30 kills per set and hitting .365. During the season, she broke two UH rally-scoring records for hitting percentage (.917 vs. New Mexico State) and blocking (16 vs. San Diego).

Sophomore Emily Hartong will join Hewitt in the middle, but may also see time at outside hitter. Last season she became UH's third consecutive WAC Freshman of the Year, and was also named second team all-conference. She started all 32 matches, opening the season averaging 10 kills in her first six matches. She finished her freshman campaign averaging 2.04 kills per set and tied for third on the team with 59 total blocks.

Also likely to see action at middle hitter is sophomore Kristiana Tuaniga. After redshirting in 2009, she came off the bench last season in 19 matches. She posted 11 kills in 22 sets and her size and strength should pose a threat to the opposition.

New to the squad are freshmen Jade Vorster and Kalei Adolpho. Vorster, who finished high school a semester early, joined the team last spring and has a semester of spring competition under her belt. A graduate of Timber Creek High School in Florida, she left the program as the all-time single season leader in blocks and aces. Adolpho, who will also be playing for the Rainbow Wahine basketball team, comes to the team fresh off a stellar career at Moloka'i High School. She earned all-state honors in volleyball, basketball, and track (high jump).