Raeceen Woolford's path through her Rainbow Wahine volleyball career has never been the shortest distance between two points. The walk-on out of 'Iolani describes it as a journey of faith and fate, taking her places she did not expect, but is now happy to have experienced.

In five years, Woolford has rarely started. Some nights, the 5-foot-7 defensive specialist rarely plays. But her value to the team will never be measured in digs and aces. Woolford's greatest asset has always been deep down in her soul.

"The role she's in speaks a lot about who she is," UH associate coach Kari Ambrozich said. "She is totally a person who puts the team ahead of herself and always has been. I'm sure at times it's hard and I'm sure she leans on her faith to get her through those times.

"She's got a nice role in that she's outspoken and can remind people this is a team and not everybody can be on the floor, but they are all part of the success. It takes a strong character to not just talk the talk but walk the walk. I've never seen her pout or get down. It's a testament to her character."

"Testament" is a word Woolford uses often, including as a description for her volleyball career. "If I didn't have the struggle, I wouldn't know that I could reach out to my spirituality."

She is often funny and sarcastic, but also extremely analytical and spiritual. Her faith has grown immensely the last five years, through the demanding roller coaster of top-ranked volleyball and pre-med classes, complemented by a 14-year study of the Japanese language — by someone who is Hawaiian, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, Filipino and Chinese.

When Woolford committed to the program in 2003, taking up the challenge along with All-America classmate Kanoe Kamana'o, it was for the duration.

"I knew that I had it in me to be part of this program," Woolford recalled. "And, I was in love with the Wahine. I knew I could contribute somehow."

It would never be what she anticipated. There have been breathtaking moments, riveting rotations and that memorable 14-point service run as a sophomore. But more often, Woolford is cheering on the bench. She has transformed part-time play into something very fulfilling.

Woolford came to Manoa expecting to play a lot someday and had a shot at starting last year. It did not work out, in part because her dynamic athleticism — UH coach Dave Shoji calls her the team's best athlete and one of its hardest workers — is great for making the spectacular play but passing is more about hand-eye coordination.

When that all shook out, Woolford's self-described "journey" through the program "shifted and molded." She started to realize her value in practice and off the court, where she could still help make the team better.

"I realized that it's just not about me," Woolford said. "Last year, I pretty much went from the top to the bottom in terms of playing time. It was a humbling experience. I grew a testament. I realized I had to lose my pride ... accept a purpose that initially I didn't want. It took like a slap in the face for me to realize I was being selfish. I needed to drop that complex."

It had to be difficult, but that was never evident. Woolford said she found peace with her place on the team and "the stress kind of disintegrated." She ended up having a solid junior year, playing in every match and getting 163 digs and 17 aces.

Those numbers are down now, because of the play of freshman Liz Ka'aihue, the first libero Shoji ever recruited. Still, Woolford is "thankful for my struggles."

"As much as I want to be out there, because I always do, I work hard to play ... but when God showed me I could contribute in other ways it was so fulfilling for me," Woolford said. "It's not about me, I'm not worried about me ... this is what God called me for."

Shoji still has trouble explaining what Woolford means to his team, and her place as a senior role model and a player who can go in a match at his whim, often under immense pressure, and change the momentum in one audacious moment.

He did see it coming. Woolford has a 36-inch vertical jump and can squat lift 275 pounds. She was an all-state hitter in high school and Shoji believes "she could have been a star" on the left at many Division I programs.

Since Kamana'o — who ran track at 'Iolani — and Cayley Thurlby graduated, no one comes close to her in sprints. "And Raeceen goes flat-out all the time," Ambrozich said. "She's incredibly fast."

Ambrozich describes Woolford as a great "groveler," who benefited from mentors like Ashley Watanabe. Shoji feels that talent, complemented by Woolford's athleticism, makes her a defensive specialist "specialist."

"She is able to make the most difficult play," he said. "She has amazing quickness and can get to balls others can't. I'm not exactly sure when the right moment is to put her in ... it's instinctive, but she usually makes something happen."

That is not about to end. Woolford is nine units short of graduating in Health Studies, then is contemplating graduate school before she embarks on her medical career. She wants to travel and maybe study Hawaiian healing, alternative medicine or childhood development before going into pediatrics. Volleyball will be a part of her practice.

"Everything about volleyball — work ethic, patience, dedication, making myself flexible to others, working with others ... that's what I've learned," Woolford said. "Mostly working hard, committing yourself to something you really enjoy doing, and knowing no other option other than to do it and do it well."

As Shoji and his 12th-ranked team go into the second half of their season, beginning tomorrow against Nevada and Sunday against Fresno State, the coach has absolutely no complaints about his senior "specialist." He is also confident her future will be even more fulfilling than the past five years.

"She's always been a mature person, but she's way beyond her years as far as knowing what she wants to do," Shoji said. "Everything seems settled in her life. She's such a solid person. Most college kids are not even close to where she is.

"I'm pretty sure her faith has answered a lot of her doubts. There's no question her faith has grown, and it keeps growing."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.