In her short Rainbow Wahine volleyball career, Stephanie Brandt has brought an energy that helped haul Hawai'i back from the brink of early-season disaster. But for all her exuberance and experience, the reason Brandt has seized the setting position this season probably goes back to opening night, when UH coach Dave Shoji constantly saw the bottom of her Asics sneakers desperately heading in the direction of an errant pass.

"She gets to a lot of balls and she's had to run down a lot this year already," Shoji said. "I feel for her. Our passing was tragic early and she got to almost every one of them and did something with it. That's what we need."

After years of rolling out the balls and watching four-time All-American Kanoe Kamana'o magically transform poor passes into hittable works of volleyball art, Shoji and the 'Bows knew the setting position could be a season-breaker this year. That it has gone somewhat unnoticed might be the ultimate compliment to Brandt, a sophomore who transferred here this summer when the UC Santa Barbara team she committed to as a high school junior morphed into something very different when she arrived.

Brandt was the Gauchos' starter last year, leading the Big West in assists and earning all-freshman honors. But the moment UCSB fell in five to Brigham Young in the NCAA Tournament, she conscientiously began to plan her future and realized it did not include Santa Barbara. She pondered her options, reacquainting herself with the schools that had recruited her out of high school, including New Mexico State.

A visit to Manoa in January was all it took. She committed before going home to Irvine, Calif., after finding a team full of volleyball soulmates in a place where the natural beauty was enhanced by friends and family on her father's side.

"The girls were really serious about volleyball," Brandt said. "It's rare to find a program where it's not just an inconvenience to go to practice. The girls here want to play, want to be good. A lot of people I grew up with played volleyball for the scholarship. When they got to college they lost their passion for the game. The girls here still have it. They were eager to play and the coaches were so involved in the program. And the girls were so nice and welcoming."

Brandt has been the starting setter since bringing the 'Bows back from a two-game deficit in the season opener. Shoji put her in because he felt her experience gave UH a better shot at rallying than it would have with freshman Dani Mafua. Brandt has started every game since, leads the WAC in assists going into the conference opener tonight against Idaho, and has given the 15th-ranked Rainbow Wahine a gritty stability in the game's most crucial position.

She's hardly perfect. Kamana'o, the program's career assist leader, might be as close any setter will ever come. But Brandt and Mafua have proved more than willing to put in the time, repetitions and touches needed to get the ball to the hitters, with all their diverse demands. Location and tempo will be a career-long quest, but Kamana'o could have told them that. Even the pressure of playing in her shadow faded after Hawai'i's dramatic turnaround last weekend.

"I sensed more pressure at the beginning of the season," Brandt admitted. "Now that we're winning, fans seem more relaxed."

The coaches promised patience from the start. It helps that Brandt has proved willing to go flat-out for as long as it takes. Her only speed seems to be frantic, yet she has provided a sense of stability, and proved more than once she can dig a volleyball to the chest from five paces, before her relatively small frame flies backward. She also collected five blocks in her three games against Michigan, and four aces against Kansas State.

Shoji characterizes her as a "grinder" and statistics bear him out. Brandt is on a grinding pace to overtake Robyn Ah Mow, now setting for the U.S. national team, who is third in career assists — in just three years.

Her consistency, instincts and ability to better the ball won her the position. Her demeanor has helped her keep it.

"She's the Energizer bunny out there, always encouraging the team," associate coach Kari Ambrozich said. "It goes a long way. She helps with the energy and flow and that's the kind of thing that needs to happen. Somebody needs to do it and she's a good one because she touches the ball all the time."

Father Steve and older sister Katie, who played for Pennsylvania, used to pound balls at Stephanie when she was 5. Now, it has come to this, back where he started his career out of law school. Steve, whose relatives came here 70 years ago, now has the ideal reason to return.

"Our connection with the Islands is so strong," he said. "I have family and lots of friends there. It's the ohana thing. The team has embraced her. She loves her teammates. The family and boosters are so supportive. Those players are not alone. She's far away physically, but I don't worry for a second about her. She's in a competitive environment and a loving environment. And she's got 50 new aunties."

NOTES

All UH system students can get a free ticket to this weekend's matches. Tickets can be picked up at the Stan Sheriff Center box office until 4 p.m. today, or before the matches at Gate A. Students must show valid UH identification.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.