The expectations are clear before pen touches paper.
 
Floor defense has long formed the foundation of University of Hawai'i women's volleyball, so before signing a letter of intent, players interested in chasing a spot with the Rainbow Wahine are made aware of the emphasis on pursuing every ball on their side of the net.
 
"Even when we had that conversation before we committed, (UH head coach Robyn Ah Mow) always (said) that ball control is huge," junior libero Tayli Ikenaga said. "Especially in her gym, that's something we need to work on."
 
It's a mentality that isn't reserved for back-row specialists and a facet the returnees to a veteran UH roster introduced to this season's newcomers prior to the start of training camp and one Ah Mow reinforced since Day 1 of practice.
 
"That's a big thing they learned even from open gyms," senior outside hitter Riley Wagoner said. "We're a super defensive team and it shows in what we do in practice every day and how much we focus on serve-receive and defense and just kind of groveling and keeping anything off the floor that we can."
 
The Rainbow Wahine will look to defend their home floor in the season-opening Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. They'll face Northwestern on Friday and take on No. 13 San Diego, a Final Four team last season, on Saturday. The Wahine then close the weekend with a matchup against No. 9 Oregon who fell in the NCAA quarterfinals a year ago.
 
The Rainbow Wahine return nine players, including five starters, coming off of a 22-7 season in 2022 highlighted by a third-straight Big West championship and the program's 29th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 40th overall.
 
The 'Bows warmed up for the opening weekend with the Green-and-White scrimmage on Aug. 19 which included several lengthy rallies with both sides chasing down shots after shot.
 
For Ah Mow, creating opportunities to score by keeping passes in system or extending plays on defense carries considerable weight in crafting lineup combinations.
 
"The best six are going to play, and it's not just if you're hitting really good balls," Ah Mow said. "If you can't pass or play defense, what's the point? They all know that."
 
The Rainbow Wahine lineup returns each of the Big West's major award winners in middle blocker Amber Igiede (Player of the Year), junior Kate Lang (Setter of the Year) and outside hitter Caylen Alexander (Freshman of the Year). Wagoner joined Igiede and Lang on the all-conference first team while Alexander made the second team.
 
The Wahine also return back-row mainstays in Ikenaga and senior Talia Edmonds and added Colby Lane, a McKinley High School graduate who played two seasons at SeattleU.
 
UH's emphasis on defense tends to permeate Hawai'i volleyball culture and Ikenaga was among the youngsters influenced by watching the Wahine from the stands.
 
"Being in the Stan watching (former standout UH libero) Ali Longo play really inspired me," said Ikenaga, a Moanalua alumna. "That's how I want to play."
 
Defense often starts with touches at the net and Igiede ranked second in the conference with 1.29 blocks per set while also leading the Big West with a single-season program record .433 hitting percentage which ranked her at No. 5 in the NCAA. The fifth-year senior averaged 3.79 kills per set.and finished first in the conference with 523.5 total points and 4.89 points/set.
 
Igiede will be joined in the middle rotation by senior Kennedi Evans and sophomore Jacyn Bamis, who transferred to UH last spring after playing a year at Clemson.
 
Alexander and Wagoner lead the returning pin hitters with the group adding freshmen Tali Hakas and Stella Adeyemi and transfer Paula Guersching (Youngstown State).
 
Senior outside hitter Kendra Ham carved out a regular role as a serving specialist and with her defense last season, finishing third on the team with 2.17 digs per set behind Ikenaga (3.18) and Wagoner (2.48).
 
Lang returns for her third season running the Wahine attack and freshman Jackie Matias has joined the active rotation after redshirting last year.
 
The depth throughout the creates competition in the practice gym and offers Ah Mow options come game night.
 
"That's always super fun that she can put people in different positions and they're going to embrace that role," Wagoner said. "I think we have a lot of different pieces that could fit in different ways."