Picture an athletic commitment so deep it doesn't matter if payback is never realized and it is expected that contributions will rarely be recognized. Now, stuff seven Rainbow Wahine volleyball players in that picture.

They are the walk-ons for seventh-ranked Hawai'i's 2006 team, which opens next Friday against Pepperdine. They put in the same sweaty hours as the dozen scholarship players, but pay their own tuition, housing and books. They never know when or if they will play. Chances are, most won't.

That is not a dealbreaker.

The gang of seven endure because they share some basic values: a love of the game, particularly at a high level; a willingness to sacrifice self for the good of the group's common goal; an ability to grow through perseverance rather than playing time, and; the ability to offer encouragement and support even though your turn to serve might not come.

They are also very competitive and don't shy from challenge.

Kamehameha graduate Makana Recca (University of San Francisco), Punahou graduate Spenser Rigg (Barry) and Elise Duggins (Long Beach State) transferred from places where they could play or were comfortable to chase a dream. Rigg, from a legendary Hawai'i volleyball family, climbed into fourth on Barry's single-season dig list last year as a freshman.

Duggins had to leave home to follow her sister — All-American Lauren — to Hawai'i. There are no regrets.

"I get to compete at an amazing level against awesome players ...," Elise said. "The girls don't treat anyone differently, walk-on or scholarship. That's what being on a team is about, doing anything for each other and working hard together."

Caroline Blood — the only walk-on not vying for a libero/defensive specialist position — came to Hawai'i as a softball player. She has played in moments of seven matches since switching sports two years ago and is now listed fifth on the depth chart at the very competitive middle blocker position.

Blood views it as a privilege. "I will continue to be a competitor and help make everyone around me get better," Blood said. "This team has so much heart and dedication it makes me feel great that I can be a part of something so special."

Hawai'i Baptist graduates Rayna Kitaguchi and Jayme Lee red-shirted last year and are back for more. Kitaguchi, whose favorite athlete is former Rainbow walk-on Aven Lee, views her most valuable role as being a "constant reminder for our team to stay focused and encouraged."

Jayme Lee, 5 feet 2 inches of perpetual motion, sees this as a rare opportunity to build character: "Playing with this team," she said, "has made me stronger in every way imaginable."

In that, she echoes this season's walk-on poster child, Raeceen Woolford. The 2003 Iolani graduate is a red-shirt junior who worked so hard between pre-med classes for three years she will probably start at libero next week against 19th-ranked Pepperdine.

Woolford's journey started with a dare and has turned into the "power to look any challenge, big or small, in the eye ... and just smile." She has always viewed her painstaking path to playing as a way of building character and faith.

"One day God told me to dare to do the impossible and see how far you can possibly go," Woolford said. "So as a freshman I told myself I was going to try out and do my best and let God do the rest. ... If I can do what I normally wouldn't think is possible by committing all that time and effort and strain to this program, if I can do that, I find that's pretty much the key to living the rest of my life."

She admits quitting crossed her mind much more than once, beginning with the first second of her first practice when she felt utterly intimidated. She fell back on her faith and now tells kids interested in pursuing her path they need a strong support system to prevail.

The walk-ons provide that for each other, even as they compete for precious time and space. There are 19 on the team now. Coach Dave Shoji tried to create "separation" between the backrow specialists last week with a competition based on serving and passing. The only person that truly separated herself was Woolford.

Shoji could still make cuts, but is trying to find a way to keep everyone involved without decreasing the necessary repetitions each player needs.

He characterizes the glut of good players a unique situation in his 32 years and is amazed at the level of devotion the walk-ons show when, realistically, they know their most valuable asset might be to make those around them better.

"I probably would not have stuck it out as long as some of them already have," Shoji said. "Personally, I need instant gratification and this process is not instant gratification for any of them. It's a long process and many, many hours of being in the weight room, on the field at 6:30 in the morning and countless hours of getting a few reps and a bunch of shagging balls and sweeping the floor and getting out the equipment."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.