Once the University of Hawai'i volleyball season ends, Jamie Houston is poised to suit up for the Rainbow Wahine basketball team.

Houston, a 6-foot-2 freshman, yesterday said she plans to seek permission from Rainbow Wahine basketball coach Jim Bolla today.

"I'll talk to him, and ask him if it was all right if I come out and be on the team," Houston said.

Houston, a 2005 graduate of Huntsville High School in Alabama, has received permission from UH volleyball coach Dave Shoji to play basketball.

"If she wants to do that, I'm not going to stand in her way, " he said.

Yesterday, Bolla said he would welcome the two-time Alabama volleyball State Player of the Year and two-time all-state basketball honoree.

"The door is open," Bolla said. "She's more than welcome to come out and play."

Houston is considered one of the most dynamic outside hitters on the UH volleyball team. In leaping-ability tests, Houston has touched as high as 10 feet, 4 inches, Shoji said.

At Huntsville High, Houston scored more than 1,000 points in two seasons playing at the small forward and power forward spots. She was also nominated to the McDonald's All-American basketball game.

"I still have the love for basketball that I've always had going through high school," Houston said. "Now that I'm in college, I really miss it."

Houston could join the UH basketball team for the start of Western Athletic Conference play, Jan. 5. The NCAA volleyball championship is Dec. 17.

Houston's UH volleyball workouts in the spring might overlap with basketball, but Shoji said, "I think we can work something out."

If she makes the team, Houston will play basketball under her volleyball scholarship this season. If she plays basketball next season, her scholarship will likely be absorbed by the basketball team, freeing a scholarship for the volleyball team, Bolla said.

"Anyone who is going to get us more Ws, I think the team will be in full support," UH basketball player Brittany Grice said. The UH basketball team begins its season Saturday.

Kim Willoughby was the most recent UH student-athlete to play volleyball (2000-03) and basketball (2002-03).

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.