Her third floor office window affords new Rainbow Wahine volleyball head coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos a view of the sun rising each morning over the University of Hawaii athletic department.

But much of her inspirational light each day comes, not from the east, but from a picture prominently perched on the window ledge.

In it she and her mother, the late Lovina Puanani Ah Mow, share a lei-bedecked moment from 2000 at then-Honolulu International Airport when Robyn was returning from the Sydney Olympics.

At the time, Robyn would say, “she was my best friend and helped to make my volleyball dreams come true, no matter what it cost. I will always love her.”

These days as she wades into the challenge of succeeding legendary Dave Shoji as only the second full-time coach of the team at her alma mater, Ah Mow-Santos regularly looks to her parents, Talmage and Lovina for inspiration and reaffirmation.

“My parents are a big reason why I’m here, you know,” Ah Mow-Santos said surveying her team in its first week of training camp. “Pushing me, sacrificing for me, all the time and money to go to volleyball camps, college, helping me with my child when I was on the national team (and her husband, Niobel, was on military assignment to Iraq) … and everything else.”

Mostly, she said, “they raised me to go for it,” on the highest levels — even if others once thought her too short or too quiet. And, “to always remember where you came from and to be humble.”

Those values and can-do spirit drive her daily as she picks up her whistle and exhorts her team on the practice floor. Apart from playing improved defense and upgrading the ball handling, she demands dedication. She has counseled them from the first day to come prepared each day, to strive for improvement and work though fatigue.

They are lessons ingrained from elementary school by parents who were, themselves, volleyball players. Both were setters.

Assistant coach and former teammate Angelica Ljungqvist, the 1996 NCAA player of the year, is familiar with the ties that bind Ah Mow-Santos and her parents. “Her family is the No. 1 thing in her life,” Ljungqvist said. “It is a very special relationship and I’ve been fortunate enough to be allowed to be a little part of that family. I think it is definitely a big motivation for her wanting to give back to others what her family has given to her.”

Then, there are the respect and motivation factors. “She also wants to make them proud of her, what she has accomplished and what she is doing now,” Ljungqvist said.

A two-time All-American in college, three-time U. S. Olympian and captain of a silver medal Olympic team, international pro player, UH Circle of Honor and Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame inductee all before age 40. “I’m pretty sure that every day, whatever she is doing, she is working hard to make them proud,” Ljungqvist said.

Ah Mow-Santos’ one regret — and one wish — this week as she took over the UH team? “I wish my mom were here to see it all now,” she said. “And, hopefully, my dad can make it back here (from Las Vegas) for a couple of matches this year.”

Meanwhile, there is the prized picture next to her office desk making sure that thoughts of her parents are never far away. “They’ve been right there by my side for a long time now,” Ah Mow-Santos said. In a way, she says with a twinkle, “They still are.”

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.