HONOLULU, HI (August 20, 2013) – Head coach Daryl Kapis inherited an impossible situation the first day he walked on campus at Hawai'i Pacific in the fall of 2006. He was replacing a legendary hall of fame coach and was left with a roster almost devoid of playmakers. Consequently, his Sea Warriors took their lumps in the early years. Flash forward to 2013, the storied Sea Warrior tradition is back, amassing a record of 50-24 in the last three seasons. The Sea Warrior faithful hope that 2013 is the year HPU makes it back to the NCAA West Regionals.

HPU returns 13 players from the 2012 team that finished 17-8, including five of the seven starters. Highlighting the returners are 2012 All-PacWest selections Chelsey Buyuan and Haley Doerfler.

Setters
The Sea Warriors will have to fill the void left by three-year starter Pihana Kea. Junior Hannah Schuett figures to be a factor as she brings 35 matches and 227 assists to the table. The two-year backup knows the PacWest ropes and hopes to build off a strong spring season. Newcomer Marie Fujii will also compete for the job. While new to HPU, she isn't new to Oahu. The junior transfer was all-state at Pearl City High School before playing two seasons at JUCO powerhouse Southern Idaho where she helped win the 2012 national championship.

Pin Hitters
HPU has plenty of firepower returning, beginning with Amanda Moriarty and Kasey Thompson who started a combined 49 matches as freshman in 2012. Moriarty, also a brilliant passer, led the team in points last season with 269.5 (3.06 per set) and could be the focal point of the Sea Warrior offense. The heavy-handed Thompson had 211 points (2.48 per set) during a great freshman season. She played like a vet in 2012 and could be asked to lead a position group that features just one senior. Samantha Rummans was another "diaper dandy" in 2012, placing third on the team with 2.3 kills per set. The sophomore, who has some of the best physical tools in the conference, is looking for a breakout campaign after a strong summer were she played on the beach at a high level. Elizabeth Culpepper had a strong freshman campaign as a middle blocker, and is working hard to make the transition to the outside. The San Luis Obispo native stands 6'1, and with her off the chart athleticism, she could be a matchup nightmare for PacWest coaches. Senior Makamae Recca should not be forgotten and could factor heavily in to Kapis' plans. Uniquely talented, "Maks" is a good passer which lets her play anywhere on the floor. Pomai Recca, sister of Makamae and the departed Sanoe (played at HPU from '09-'12), joins the Sea Warriors with some hype. Considered a Division I prospect by many while at Kamehameha-Kapalama, Pomai continues the Recca tradition at HPU and could provide an instant impact.

Middle Blockers
Doerfler, a junior, was amazing in 2012 as she led the Sea Warriors in hitting percentage (.340), blocks per set (1.03), and was second in points (248). The Battle Ground, WA native could be ready to have her name mentioned with the great middles under Kapis such as Kelly Balanay (four-time All-PacWest) and Barbara Martin (two-time All-American). Christina Furrer, also a junior, battled injuries early in 2012 but found her groove later in the season, starting 16 matches. Furrer, a weight room regular, is considered by the coaching staff to be the hardest working player on the team. All the work will hopefully result in more nights like September 8th of last year when Furrer racked up 10 blocks in the match. Freshman Reilly Sprestersbach will add a new option; she hails from Altadena, CA and played four years at La Salle High School where she helped her team to the 2012 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) D2AA Final. In her junior year, her team won the D1A CIF Championships. Sophomore Sophia Blaszyk returns for her second season and will fight for time in the middle.

Defensive Specialists
The libero spot is all but locked up for Buyuan who is on a short list of candidates for PacWest Libero of the Year in 2013. The senior captain led the team with 375 digs in 2012, including a 28 dig outburst against Academy of Art.  On a young team, Buyuan's experience in 74 career matches could prove vital. Fellow senior Jamie Asuncion also brings some experience to the back row. One of the top "littles" on the team, the Pearl City product played in 22 matches in 2012. Kara Wong was another member of Kapis' great recruiting class of 2012, having an immediate impact, playing in 24 matches while totaling 150 digs. Also returning is Honolulu native Jasmine Fujimoto, the sophomore will vie for minutes in a talented back row.

PacWest Coaches Weigh In
Although confidence is running high on Fort Street Mall, the Pacific West Conference coaches don't feel the same, at least not yet. HPU was picked to finish fifth in the 13 team league.

2013 Preseason PacWest Predicted Order of Finish
1. BYU-Hawaii 161 (9)
2. Fresno Pacific 154 (3)
3. California Baptist 145 (1)
4. Azusa Pacific 127
5. Hawai'i Pacific 118
6. Point Loma 102
7. Dixie State 76
8. Academy of Art 75
9. Holy Names 64
10. Hawai'i Hilo 52
11. Chaminade 45
12. Dominican (CA) 44
13. Notre Dame de Namur 20
  
Go Time
Yesterday was the first official day of practice, but there is no time to ease into the season. The opener is just 11 days away against the University of Alaska on August 31st at 6:00 PM at St. Andrew's Priory.