They already have the advantage right out of the gate as they are not only the team to beat in the Pacific West Conference, but also the team to beat in the nation.

As of Sept. 5, HPU was ranked No. 1 in the nation among division II schools. On Sept. 16 they reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the NCAA II college coaches poll.

A Lady Sea Warriors volleyball match might be mistaken for a gathering of Jolly Green Giants, with five players standing well over six feet. Heading the charge is a pair of 6-foot-3 towers, Flavia Gabino and Andrea Wean. Then there is 6-2 Roberta Robert and the smaller but not by much duo of Debbie Sant’ Anna and Susy Garbelotti at 6-1.

Even with enough players to equal the height of the Ala Moana Tower, the main ingredient might just be a relatively tiny 5-foot-9 Nia Tuitele from Kalihi, Oahu.

Tuitele, an All-American last year, comes to this year’s team as one of the leaders on the court. In her third season under Head Coach Tita Ahuna, Tuitele just keeps getting better. Last year she recorded 103 kills, 1,468 assists, 306 digs, and 71 blocks, enroute to becoming the first ever player from HPU to be selected first-team AVCA Division II All-American. She was also a first-team all-region and second-team all-conference selection. Tuitele is a communication major.

Joining Tuitele as starters also from last year’s starting squad are Gabino and Sant’Anna.

Sant’Anna, from Sao Paulo, Brazil was selected to the All-American second team, first team All-Pacific Region, and first-team All-PacWest Pacific Division last year. She also led HPU in kills (295) and kills per game (4.04).

Sant’Anna comes into this season as HPU’s career leader in service aces (94) and might sometime this season become the third player in school history with 1,000 or more kills.

Sant’Anna already has a BSBA in business and is working on her master’s degree.

Gabino, a senior from Joao Pessoa, Brazil, received All-Pacific Region honors last year as well as first team All-PacWest Pacific Division and PacWest newcomer of the year honors. She is majoring in international relations.

Crystal Ames is the lone freshman on the team. She graduated from Shorecrest High School in Seattle, Washington, where she received multiple awards.

Ames was a three-year letter winner and three-time member of the all-league team and was named to the class 4A All-State volleyball team. Ames is majoring in communication.

Summer Castillo, from Hilo, enters her third season at HPU.

A year ago she played in 16 games and tallied 11 kills, two assists, and 18 digs. Castillo is majoring in justice administration.

Davina Dobson, from Moanalua, Oahu, is one of two sophomores playing for Ahuna this year.

Dobson reached the court 16 times last season and recorded 16 kills, four assists, and 36 digs.

Dobson is working on a degree in social science.

Suzy Garbelotti, from Foz Do Iguacu, Brazil, comes to HPU as a sophomore transfer from National American University in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Garbellotti was named a first team all-region, and honorable-mention NAIA All-America selection. She is majoring in travel industry management.

Kristi Lezchuck, from Los Altos, Calif., is a senior on this year’s squad but is only in her second season at HPU.

She comes from Foothill College where she received numerous awards, including All-State honors for two seasons, and she was a two-time All-Northern California Conference first team selection. Lezchuk is majoring in human resource

Robert, from Curitiba, Brazil, is a junior transfer from the College of Southern Idaho where she earned first-team All-SWAC Region, and NJCAA All-America honors. She is majoring in advertising.

Kea Wong, from Hilo, is in her third season at HPU. She played in 82 games last year, averaging 1.49 digs per game. Wong is majoring in business management.

Head Coach Ahuna is assisted by Damien Hardy.

"This team is really tough, because you can’t focus on a single person. If you do, then somebody else will beat you," said Ahuna.