In a terrible twist of fate now as common as it is heart-wrenching, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine lost a prominent volleyball player for the season a week into practice.

Junior Nickie Thomas, who missed most of last year after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, injured her left knee at Sunday's practice. Thomas and the school announced yesterday that she will miss the entire 2007 season.

"Right now all we can think about is losing Nickie," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "She's given everything she's had to this program for a big portion of two years to try and get ready and we all just feel terrible for her. ... She is one of those people that just gives, she's not a taker. That's what's so sad about it — that she's worked so hard for everybody else."

A year ago, the 'Bows lost starters Tara Hittle, Jessica Keefe and Thomas to season-ending injuries. Sarah Mason, an all-conference senior, also missed matches after injuring her ankle in a preseason scrimmage.

Thomas, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker from Austin, Texas, red-shirted in 2004. She played little in 2005, then won a starting position last year. Her season ended Sept. 14 after she tore her right ACL against Cal Poly.

She had surgery soon after and was healthy again, and ready to win her position back, when practice began last week. Then Sunday, she tore the ACL and medial meniscus in her left knee.

The 1-2 punch to the ACL is exceedingly common among female athletes. Keefe has had four operations on her knees. Former UH basketball players Nani Cockett, Hedy Liu and Jade Abele all suffered torn ACLs in both knees, with Abele injured again just last month playing professionally in Australia.

The serious injury so early in the season — Hawai'i doesn't open until Aug. 24 against Michigan — is a haunting reminder of last year. Shoji has asked his team not to linger on it.

"I'm sure some of them are thinking about our situation last year," he said. "I told them they can't back off, can't go half speed, can't worry about it because that's when you do get injured. We just have to continue to work hard and hopefully we've had our share of misfortune."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.