Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji believes senior Sarah Mason could be well enough to play in Friday's volleyball opener. The seventh-ranked Rainbow Wahine take on 19th-ranked Pepperdine Friday and Saturday at Stan Sheriff Center.

Shoji has been projecting the 6-foot-3 Mason as the starting right-side hitter, but she sprained her left ankle early in Saturday's scrimmage.

Mason did not practice yesterday. If she is not available Friday, Shoji said sophomore Jessica Keefe would probably start. Backup setter Cayley Thurlby will also practice the position this week.

"Jessica was close to starting anyway" Shoji said. "She had a good fall camp and gives us offense. We'll lose some blocking — that's why Sarah was starting on the right."

If Keefe does play, she will probably be replaced in the backrow by a defensive specialist for ballhandling purposes. That might be a concern after Saturday's scrimmage.

"We have to pass better. The liberos did not pass well enough for us to win a match," Shoji said then. "Statistically, Rayna (Kitaguchi) was the only one that had acceptable numbers. That position is still up in the air."

Ironically, Mason was having an impressive scrimmage, with her passing and new "jump float" serve particularly effective.

"Sarah played really well, has been playing well and now this," Shoji said. "It's unfortunate for her."

Mason sprained her right ankle in last year's season opener. She reinjured it twice more before the 'Bows ended their season in the NCAA Regional at Penn State.

Mason still played in all but eight of Hawai'i's matches, starting 15. She led the team with an average of just under 4 kills a game and was named all-WAC first team in her first season back home. The 2003 St. Joseph graduate played her first two seasons for Oregon.

RIGG DECIDES NOT TO PLAY

Punahou graduate Spenser Rigg has decided not to remain as a walk-on. Rigg, who won state high school championships in volleyball and water polo, transferred to UH this year. She helped Barry University (Florida) to the NCAA South Regional last season, her 408 digs ranking fourth on the school's single season list.

REGIONAL TICKET SALES

Tickets for the NCAA Regional, Dec. 8 and 9 at the Stan Sheriff Center, will go on sale next month, according to UH. Season ticket holders will have the first chance to buy.

NO 'BOWS ON CSTV

Hawai'i's only opportunity to be seen on CSTV's AVCA Match of the Week this year is if it reaches the WAC Championship, Nov. 24 in Reno, Nev. The Rainbow Wahine, whose home matches are all televised locally, are not part of CSTV's regular-season schedule, which starts with the AVCA College Volleyball Showcase Saturday from Madison, Wis.

'GO PRO' STARTS SEPT. 3

The CSTV reality series "Go Pro or Go Home," which features former UH All-American Victoria Prince, will debut Sept. 3. The series documents some of last year's top collegiate players on and off the sand as they transition from indoors to the beach game. The cable network will also debut "AVCA Update Presented by Tachikara" during the 2006 season. It will feature highlights and analysis of national collegiate matches.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.