They lost a lot. Four starters. Four reserves who saw substantial playing time.

Still, it didn’t make a dent in the respect the Hawaii volleyball program garnered in what many consider a rebuilding year.

The Rainbow Wahine again were No. 1 in the preseason coaches poll, receiving five of the nine first-place votes in the Big West rankings announced Wednesday.

That it wasn’t close to unanimous, as often has been the case, is a good thing according to a coach who believes Hawaii will win its 20th conference crown.

"It’s good for the league, it’s good to stir up the discussion," said Wahine coach Dave Shoji, entering his 40th season. "I’m sure there’s questions in everyone’s minds how good we’re going to be. It wasn’t unanimous, other schools got votes.

"I voted us No. 1 because I think we’re going to win."

Hawaii finished with 77 points, nine more than perennial rival Long Beach State, which received one first-place vote. UC Santa Barbara had two votes and 63 points, with Cal State Northridge getting one vote and 60 points.

The gap among the top four in the poll mirrored the gap in the 2013 final standings, which saw Hawaii, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge all share in the conference title at 13-3 and The Beach at 11-5. Picked fifth was UC Irvine (42 points, 5-11 in ’13) followed by Cal Poly (34, 6-10), UC Davis (25, 6-10), Cal State Fullerton (24, 4-12) and UC Riverside (12, 1-15).

On Wednesday, Shoji wasn’t dwelling on last year, one where he became the all-time winningest coach in Division I women’s volleyball. Nor was he looking back at the surprising sweep by Brigham Young in the NCAA second round that ended his 39th season at 25-5.

He was looking ahead to Sunday’s start of practice and rebuilding a team around returning starters Nikki Taylor and Kalei Adolpho. Hawaii is No. 1 in the Big West until someone proves different.

"People think the league is going to be better," he said. "That’s still to be determined. The bottom line is you have to win games."

Hawaii opens the season with the Chevron Invitational Aug. 29-31. The field includes Ohio, Arizona State and San Diego State, the latter coached for former UH All-American Deitre Collins.