After losing two of its top attackers to graduation, Rainbow Wahine volleyball has now lost a third. Sophomore Stephanie Ferrell asked for, and has been granted, her release from the University of Hawai'i.

Ferrell, a 6-foot hitter, is hoping to transfer to another school, where she would have two years of eligibility. Arizona and UNLV have already told UH that Ferrell has been in touch. She could not be reached for comment yesterday.

UH coach Dave Shoji said the program is "comfortable" with Ferrell's decision and wishes her well. "We have players that can replace her and will," he added.

Former associate coach Mike Sealy, who starts as UCLA's head coach Monday, was more specific.

"It's already filled," said Sealy, who recruited Ferrell from Los Angeles. "Chanteal Satele is the exact same player that Ferrell is. Both hit the ball really hard. Neither one, at this point in time, has a ton of ball control but Chanteal is a power hitter and that's what you need at that position. She's dedicated to becoming better in other areas."

Satele, a 2008 Word of Life graduate, transferred home from St. Mary's this semester. The 5-10 hitter helped the Gaels win the West Coast Conference and reach the NCAA Tournament's second round, averaging 2.58 kills and hitting .274.

After playing part-time as a redshirt freshman, Ferrell moved into the starting lineup last season and finished third on the team in kills, behind sophomore All-American Kanani Danielson and senior Aneli Cubi-Otineru, now playing professionally in Puerto Rico. Ferrell struggled with consistency, averaging 2.64 kills but hitting just .196 — 100 points lower than any starter.

She was named to the all-Western Athletic Conference second team and her game blossomed in postseason. Ferrell averaged more than four kills and hit .310 in the Stanford Regional and was named all-tournament.

Satele joins a 2010 recruiting class that also includes freshmen middles/hitters Kaela Goodman and Michelle Waber, setter Mita Uiato and middle Emily Hartong.

The 2011 class picked up two players this week. Jane Croson and Monica Stauber, high school juniors from California, verbally committed. They join Moloka'i High junior Kalei Adolpho, who committed in the fall and will also play basketball.

Croson, a 6-foot hitter, is Hartong's teammate at Los Alamitos High School. The Volleyball Magazine All-American already has more than 1,000 kills in her career and has been the Long Beach Press-Telegram Player of the Year her last two seasons.

She plays for Tim Jensen at the Sports Shack Club. Jensen calls her the "best terminating attacker" he has coached in club.

"She's got a million dollar arm and smile," he said. "When she hits the ball you can feel it. It makes a different sound."

Croson, who has Hawaiian blood and family here, has always wanted to come to Mānoa, according to Jensen. "She will fit in perfectly," he said. "She has the island flair. She carries herself really well and will represent UH responsibly as well as be very likable. I love your fans and with her personality they will love her."

Stauber, like Uiato a 5-8 setter, goes to Mater Dei in Santa Ana. She also plays for the Mizuno Long Beach Club, where she is coached by former Long Beach State All-American Joy Mckienzie-Fuerbringer.

Shoji expects to start interviewing for Sealy's position after Tuesday, which is the date applications are due. He won't get a list of candidates until after that and doesn't expect to name a successor until the week of March 8 at the earliest.

Sealy leaves Sunday after four years here.

"This was the only place I'd seriously interview for," he said of UCLA, where he was an All-American and worked on the women's and men's staffs before coming to UH. "Others were just for the experience. This is the only one I'd pounce on. If I had to rank them, it would be Hawai'i first and UCLA No. 2. I've always loved living here."

NOTES

Hawai'i will play a spring exhibition against Arizona March 18 at Stan Sheriff Center.

Kalani graduate Tamari Miyashiro is currently training with the U.S Women's National Team. Last weekend, Hawai'i's Kanani Danielson, Larissa Nordyke (UC Irvine), Kaleinani Kabalis (Western Nebraska) and Sydney Yogi (Texas) participated in the national team's Open Tryouts in Colorado Springs, along with 170 others. The U.S. Women's National A2 teams are expected to be announced in mid-March, from among those 174 athletes.