Aneli Cubi-Otineru's presence has smoothed some of Rainbow Wahine volleyball's rough edges technically and roughed up its laid-back image emotionally. Imagine what she might do in Week 2 of her Hawai'i homecoming, or on opening night Aug. 24 against Michigan.

It seemed she might never get here. The 2003 state high school player of the year for Punahou, where she won two state championships, was not a qualifier when she graduated in 2005.

She detoured to Twin Falls and spent her freshman year helping Southern Idaho go 50-2 and win its eighth NJCAA championship. Otineru was an AVCA All-American, with big numbers hitting, digging and serving. She was also intent on coming home.

Otineru redshirted last season and acquired her associate degree while training with Southern Idaho. The Golden Eagles' assistant coach is her sister, former Rainbow Wahine Babes Kalulu, and there are three Hawai'i players (Chanelle Esteban, Lesliann Aki and Jazmine Ma'afala) on this year's roster.

Otineru showed up in Manoa this summer just as she said she would nearly four years ago when she first committed. Her gifted game, along with remarkable instincts and a contagious competitiveness, now make her the wild card of Hawai'i's "recruiting class," even if she did show a little late.

"Aneli is probably the most complete volleyball player we have," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "She really doesn't have a weakness. She hits extremely hard, she's a really smart player, she plays great defense, has great instincts. We've got to find a spot for her on the floor."

It will be at one of the three hitting positions because, at a relatively short 5 feet 11, she hits harder than anyone on the floor. Otineru has all the attributes of Tara Hittle, the junior captain and Shoji's prototype "ball-control hitter," yet their styles are as different as they are.

Hittle, long and lean, came here from Colorado all quickness and quirkiness. Otineru, from Hale'iwa, has found her way home to the college game's elite level with a graceful combination of innate talent and stubborn persistence.

And maybe a bit of fate.

"When I found out I wasn't going to be able to go to UH after I graduated, I knew it was just something God had planned for me," Otineru said. "Actually, it did turn out really good. I grew up faster because I was on the Mainland and didn't have anyone else with me. I had to do everything on my own. I matured a lot faster.

"I was kind of immature here, but my heart was always here. I wanted to come to the University of Hawai'i, come back home and play for my family and everything."

She worked as hard in the classroom as she did running up the Snake River Canyon to train. Otineru hopes to transform her AA in liberal arts into a career in child development focused on helping at-risk families.

Shoji insists she has lost nothing in the transition, despite sitting out almost all of two of her last three seasons. She did train for a short time at libero this year with the national team.

"She's in better shape than she was when she left for Southern Idaho," Shoji insists. "All she had to do was train because she wasn't on a team."

Time away did nothing to mellow Otineru's will to win. UH associate coach Kari Ambrozich believes Otineru has already "raised our competitive level ... you really feel it from Aneli." The staff likes the feeling.

"The team needs to adapt to her," said Mike Sealy, UH's other associate. "She's got a very competitive, winning mentality that we need to be successful."

It is, apparently, tempered by all that comes with it.

"Aneli," Hittle said, "is a really sweet girl."

And really happy.

"Everything happens for a reason," Otineru said. "Now I have three years to play here in front of my family, so I think it worked out."

2007 RAINBOW WAHINE SCHEDULE

AUGUST

24-26-ASICS RAINBOW WAHINE INVITATIONAL

(Friday-5 p.m., Oregon State vs. Colorado State; Hawai'i vs. Michigan; Saturday-5 p.m., Michigan vs. Oregon State; Hawai'i vs. Colorado State; Sunday-3 p.m., Colorado State vs. Michigan; Hawai'i vs. Oregon State).

31-SEPT. 3-HAWAIIAN AIRLINES CLASSIC

(Friday-5 p.m., UCLA vs. Louisville; Hawai'i vs. Kansas State; Saturday-2 p.m., Kansas State vs. Louisville; Sunday-5 p.m., Kansas State vs. UCLA; Hawai'i vs. Louisville; Monday-5 p.m., Hawai'i vs. UCLA).

SEPTEMBER

6-8-WAIKIKI BEACH MARRIOTT CHALLENGE

(Thursday-5 p.m., Santa Clara vs. Wichita State; Hawai'i vs. Eastern Washington; Friday-5 p.m., Eastern Washington vs. Santa Clara; Hawai'i vs. Wichita State; Saturday-5 p.m., Wichita State vs. Eastern Washington; Hawai'i vs. Santa Clara. 14-*Idaho. 15-*Boise State. 20-*at Louisiana Tech. 22-*at New Mexico State. 24-*at San Jose State.

OCTOBER

5-*Nevada. 7-*Fresno State (5 p.m.). 11-*at Boise State. 13-*at Idaho. 15-*at Utah State. 21-at Nebraska. 26-*New Mexico State. 28-*Louisiana Tech (5 p.m.).

NOVEMBER

1-*at Nevada. 2-*at Fresno State. 8-*San Jose State. 11-*Utah State (8 p.m.). 15-17-WAC Tournament at Las Cruces, N.M. 20-21-Loyola Marymount. 29-30-NCAA first and second rounds (sites TBA).

DECEMBER

7-8-NCAA Regionals (sites TBA). Dec. 3 and 15-NCAA Championship (ARCO Arena, Sacramento, Calif.).

* WAC matches.

All home matches begin at 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center unless noted

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.