This changes everything.

Not only does the return of senior middle Annie Mitchem give Hawaii a mental lift, it gets the Rainbow Wahine closer to being the volleyball team they expected from the beginning of this season.

The 6-foot-3 Mitchem, the two-time national player of the year at the two-year college level, was cleared to play on Wednesday, the same day a pin was removed from her surgically repaired left pinkie finger, an injury suffered the first day of practice on Aug. 9. The two-time All-American at Irvine Valley (Calif.) College hasn’t played an official collegiate match since Oct. 17, the night she fractured her right pinkie finger during the victory over UC Irvine at the Stan Sheriff Center.

“I’m super excited,” said Mitchem, who appeared in 18 matches last season with three starts. “I thought the doctor was going to tell me I had to wait another two weeks but, when he said I could play right away, I was surprised and excited.

“Obviously, I have to work my way back and earn a position. Waiting all this time for such a small injury … it’s finally here.”

The timing couldn’t be better for No. 15 Hawaii (5-4), which has been hit with a rash of injuries and slower-than-expected recovery. Senior opposite Nikki Taylor still is bothered by an injured left elbow that had her miss the first three matches of the year. Junior left-side hitter Kalei Greeley hasn’t completely recovered from her shoulder surgery last spring.

And while Mitchem was expected to be in the middle as early as tonight’s match with Pepperdine (6-4), flu-like symptoms likely will have freshman left-side hitter Kirsten Sibley out for at least one of the matches against the Waves. Sibley had been playing in the front row for Greeley.

“Annie may have to play out of position,” Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. “With Sibley out, Annie may have to play left, something she’s never done.

“I’m just really happy for her. Has such a great attitude, has kept in shape and has practiced a lot. It’s not like she’s missed 11 months and coming back for the first time. She’s in great shape.”

That fitness has been obvious to Mitchem’s IVC coach Tom Pestolesi, the former UH All-American who is a volunteer assistant with the Wahine this season.

“Every year she’s gotten a little more physical, a little more fit,” said Pestolesi, on sabbatical from IVC. “She’s learning that she’s not going to go over kids at this level, that hitting .350 is OK. (Mitchem averaged a .476 hitting percentage at IVC).

“She just wants to play, she’s been chomping at the bit. It’s been what we’ve been waiting for from Day 1.”

While Mitchem’s versatility allows for Hawaii to have a number of lineup options, more importantly it takes pressure off of Taylor to take the majority of attacks. In the five-set loss Sunday to then-No. 6 Washington, Taylor had a career-high 29 kills and took 70 of the team’s 185 swings.

“It really helps me a lot, I’m not taking the same load,” said Taylor, who leads Hawaii in kills (119) and is second in attempts (262) despite missing three matches. “Her being back adds a very strong aspect to both offense and defense.

“She’s very good at blocking, makes great decisions at the net. She has a great personality with her light-heartedness. This makes us much more of a well-rounded team.”

“You can’t teach the physicality that she brings,” UH associate head coach Jeff Hall said. “She touches 10-5 … and that’s pretty impressive.

“This is an incredible piece that has been brought back to our team.”

Beach volleyball honors

Three freshmen on the Hawaii beach volleyball team, including crossover indoor player Emma Smith, have been named to the third annual AVCA High School Beach All-America teams.

Selected to the six-member first team was Morgan Martin (Mission Viejo, Calif., High) who finished fourth with partner Kelly Reeves at the USAV U19 Trials and FIVB U19 World Championships.

The 10-member honorable mention list included Smith (Mira Costa, Calif., High) and Chloe Luyties (La Jolla, Calif., High). There was only first team or honorable mention honors.

Luyties was ranked fifth on the CBVA U18 tour and medaled in 13 of 16 events last season. Smith, a defensive specialist for Hawaii’s indoor squad, was all-CIF during her high school career.

The Rainbow Wahine (18-10) won the inaugural Big West championship last year and finished fourth at the inaugural NCAA championship last May.