The only way is up for the Rainbow Wahine basketball team.

Hawai'i was picked to finish eighth in the two Western Athletic Conference preseason polls voted upon by coaches and media, both of which were released yesterday.

In the coaches' poll, Hawai'i received 12 points, putting it in a tie for last with San Jose State. Fresno State was first with 60 points, followed by Louisiana Tech with 58.

In the media poll, Hawai'i earned 46 points for eighth place. San Jose State was last with 26 points and Louisiana Tech was picked to finish first. Shanavia Dowdell of Louisiana Tech was picked as the Player of the Year in both polls.

"We being the underdog, there's only one way and that's up and that's where the Wahine are striving to go," said first-year Hawai'i coach Dana Takahara-Dias.

She added the picks serve as an incentive to work harder in practices, and that this is something that comes with the territory.

The Rainbow Wahine finished eighth in the WAC last year at 4-12 and were 8-23 overall. Nine players return from that team. Additionally, sophomore Courtney Gaddis redshirted last year. Newcomers include junior-college transfer Julia Bungaite, freshman Shawna Kuehu and walk-on Mai Ayabe of Japan.

During a WAC teleconference call with media from the league's cities yesterday , Takahara-Dias spoke of her team needing to work hard and of her coaching staff being surprised and pleased at the team's effort since practices started last Friday.

"The bottom line is we have a lot of work to do, but we're so excited about the energy put forth from the team that we believe it will be an exciting (year)," Takahara-Dias said.

Hawai'i hosts Hawai'i Pacific in an exhibition game on Nov. 4.

NOTE

Idaho, which has three players from Hawai'i, was picked to finish fourth in both WAC polls. The players are sophomore Shaena-Lyn Kuehu (Shawna's twin) and freshmen Kanisha Bello (Waiäkea) and Natasha Helsham ('Aiea).