The lone wolf vs. the rest of the pack.

Hawaii’s long been chased by the rest of the conference volleyball teams, whether it was while in the PCAA/Big West (1985-1995), the Western Athletic (1996-2011) or since returning to the Big West in 2012.

This season is no different as the Rainbow Wahine were the unanimous choice to repeat as champions in the preseason coaches poll. That should come as no surprise considering Hawaii returns the conference player of the year (All-American opposite Nikki Taylor) as well one other first-teamer (middle Emily Maglio) and two honorable mentions (outside hitter Kalei Greeley and libero Savanah Kahakai).

History plays a role in the respect. The Rainbow Wahine are 60-6 in the past four seasons, with two outright championships when running the table (18-0 in 2012, 16-0 in 2015) and one shared with Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara when all three went 13-3 in 2013.

As the “lone wolf,” Hawaii is the only conference match of the week for the other eight teams. The advantage for the pack is that, while the Wahine have to prepare for two opponents every week, the opponent only has to prep for Hawaii.

This schedule has been in affect since 2013, in part to Pacific leaving for the West Coast Conference, leaving the Big West with an uneven number of members. Initially, Hawaii coach Dave Shoji agreed to being the “lone wolf” for one season, something that has since become the norm and something the coach, in his 42nd season, doesn’t mind.

“It is a bit of disadvantage for us, having to get ready for two teams when the others only have us (to prepare for),” he said. “But it works for us in several ways. We don’t have the long road trips, get to play back-to-back instead of having a day in between (two out of the four road trips).

“It’s been our choosing to do this.”

The question is: Is it the right choice for this season? It will be answered early with the Wahine (7–4) hitting the road for the first time to face the two teams at the top of the standings in UC Santa Barbara (9-4) on Friday and Cal Poly (7-4) on Saturday.

“I think the Big West is better than we’ve been,” Mustangs coach Sam Crosson said. “No question, we’re making progress.

“Finally being back at home is going to be awesome. We know Hawaii has got some options. What I’m preaching to our girls is we need to be good for as long at it takes.”

BIG WEST VOLLEYBALL

A look at the Big West in order of preseason poll

Hawaii (7-4)

The Wahine have not been at full strength all season but continue to get closer with senior Annie Mitchem back in the lineup, albeit playing out of position when being moved from the middle to the left side. Junior hitter Kalei Greeley likely will be again limited to back-row duties as she rehabs from offseason shoulder surgery while freshman Kirsten Sibley, who has replaced Greeley in the front row, is back after missing last week’s two matches with Pepperdine with flu-like symptoms.

Hawaii has continued to ride the arm of senior opposite Nikki Taylor, the reigning conference player of the week, who is second nationally in points (6.78 per set), fourth in kills (5.41 per set) and aces (25). The Wahine lead the Big West in hitting percentage (.253), kills (13.98) and aces (1.67).

All four of Hawaii’s losses have come against teams currently ranked in the Top 25. The Wahine have won their last 15 conference matches dating back to 2014 when falling in five to visiting Long Beach State.

Hawaii is 37-8 against UCSB and 38-4 vs. Cal Poly. The last loss to the Gauchos was in five in 2013 and to the Mustangs in five in 2006. Five of the Wahine’s six Big West losses since 2012 have come in five.

Long Beach State (6-7)

The 49ers have dropped their last two when traveling down I-5 to San Diego, losing to then-No. 10 USD in four and then swept by San Diego State. The Beach also opened the season 1-2 at the Portland State Invitational, falling to the host Vikings in four and swept by Colorado. The other two losses were against Pac-12 teams Arizona State (3-2) and then-No. 11 UCLA (3-1).

The 49ers feature senior hitter Nele Barber, the Sept. 13 AVCA National Player of the Week, who had at least 17 kills in four matches during the 3-1 campaign. Against Duke, she had 19 kills, 14 digs and nine blocks, and hit .567 (17-0-30) in the sweep of then-No. 25 Loyola Marymount.

Freshman middle Yizhi Xue, a 6-4 Chinese national, has had an immediate impact, averaging 1.51 kills and 1.14 blocks.

Trying to fill the void left by graduated all-region setter Janelle Hudson is 6-1 sophomore Missy Owens.

Freshman Hailey Harward, in the USAV pipeline as a libero and a high school beach All-American, has moved to the outside thanks to double-digit kill performances.

Cal Poly (7-4)

While the Wahine have enjoyed being at home for the first four weeks of the season, the Mustangs have been on the road during that time. Appropriately, Cal Poly’s home opener in Mott Athletics Center is the much-hyped match with Hawaii during the campus “Week of Welcome” (classes begin today).

The Mustangs are coming off a 3-0 appearance at the Sac State Invitational where senior middle Taylor Gruenewald and junior hitter Raeann Greisen were named co-MVPs. Sophomore hitter Adlee Van Winden, the reigning conference freshman of the year, leads the Mustangs with 3.47 kills per set and 43 aces. Junior setter Taylor Nelson, the Big West assist leader (11.23), needs 17 assists to reach the 500 career mark.

Cal Poly nonconference schedule rivaled that of Hawaii’s. The Mustangs’ losses were at then-No. 13 BYU (3-0), vs. Arkansas State (3-2) in St. Louis, and two at the Stanford Invitational to then-No. 20 Purdue (3-1) and then-No. 9 host Cardinal (3-2).

UC Irvine (5-9)

The Anteaters roller-coaster of a season included a sweep of then-No. 7 USC as well as losses last week to Fresno State and Northern Arizona. UCI dropped its other matches with ranked teams: 3-1 to USD, 3-0 to UCLA and 3-0 to Colorado.

Senior hitter Victoria Dennis leads the Anteaters (3.74 kps, hitting .257) and had 31 kills in the five-set win at San Diego State. Sophomore hitter Harlee Kekauoha has picked up where she left off last season when being named first-team All-BWC, with her all-around game translating into solid numbers (2.31 kps, 16 aces).

UC Davis (7-6)

The Aggies also have been on the road for the entire nonconference schedule and host Long Beach State tonight in its home opener at The Pavilion. UCD’s signature victory was its last, in four sets over then-No. 17 Santa Clara at the Boise State tournament, the first over a Top 25 program since 2013 (Hawaii) and just the third in the school’s Division I history.

Sophomore middle Kelechi Ohiri leads the conference in blocks (1.49) and sophomore hitter Emily Allens leads the team in kills (3.79 kps).

The Aggies took two of the weekly honors on Monday with freshman Heather Reed named defensive specialist of the week based largely on her 25 digs in the upset of the Broncos. She’s had double-figure digs in all 13 matches, including five with 20 or more, averaging 4.87 dps.

Freshman of the Week went to Lauren Matias, a 6-2 outside hitter. She had a career-high 22 kills against Santa Clara, hitting .405, and finished with 43 kills in UCD’s 3-1 week that includes wins at Sac State — the lone match played in California so far this season — a loss at host Boise State and a sweep of Portland State.

UC Santa Barbara (9-4)

The Gauchos might be the surprise team of the early season — the 9-4 mark is the best start since 2009 — but it is no secret where the focus is this week. The UCSB website features a game-clock countdown to Friday’s match with Hawaii and will host a “Meet the Team” afterwards.

The Gauchos went 1-2 last week in San Diego and were swept by the host Toreros and San Diego State. The losses sandwiched the lone victory, a sweep of San Jose State.

UCSB’s other losses came in the season opener at UNLV (3-0) and at home against Pitt (3-1), which is coached by former Wahine assistant Dan Fisher.

The Gauchos finally appear healthy, as evidenced by the performance of redshirt freshman Lindsey Ruddins, who played in six matches before enduring a season-ending injury. Ruddins is second in the conference with 196 kills and a 4.45 kps average, and is No. 17 in the NCAA with 5.0 points per set. She has been named the MVP in all three tournaments in which UCSB has participated.

The Gauchos lead the Big West in blocks (2.78 bps) paced by senior middle Phoebe Grunt’s .95 bps. Grunt ranks 21st nationally in hitting percentage (.410).

Freshman setter Hannah Juley redshirted last season at Wisconsin. Sophomore libero Emilia Petrachi ranks second in the conference in digs (4.61).

CSUN (4-8)

Before the Matadors finally play at home, they are on the road for a fifth straight week starting with today’s match at UC Irvine. CSUN ended a six-match skid when pulling out a 3-2 win Saturday at the BYU Invitational; they were swept by the host Cougars (then No. 9) in their only matches against a Top 25 team.

True freshman Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker (KS-Hawaii) made her setting debut in the 3-0 loss to UNLV Saturday, finishing with 23 assists, four digs and a kill. Junior setter Lauren Conati is three assists away from 1,000. Three of CSUN’s four victories have come in five (Rhode Island, Hofstra and Utah Valley) with a straight-set win over Sac State.

UC Riverside (5-7)

The Highlanders are on the road for the fifth of six consecutive weeks when opening conference play at Cal State Fullerton. UCR won’t take part in its newly renovated SRC Arena until after playing in Honolulu next week, with the home opener against Long Beach State on Oct. 5.

The Highlanders ended a three-match skid Saturday at the Roadrunner Invitational in Bakersfield, rallying past San Francisco in five. UCR’s other wins came against Southern Utah (twice), Middle Tennessee State and Southeastern Louisiana.

Freshman hitter Mickayla Sherman leads the team with 2.85 kills and sophomore setter Chelsea Doyle has 16 aces to go along with 337 assists.

Cal State Fullerton (5-9)

The Titans, 0-28 last season, already have five victories. They haven’t won a conference match since Nov. 15, 2014, when they swept UC Riverside, the team they host on Saturday.

Fullerton opened 2-0 with road victories against Mississippi Valley and South Carolina State. The Titans also defeated Grand Canyon, The Citadel and Colgate before losing their next three (San Jose State, San Diego, San Diego State) at last week’s California Mixer in San Diego.

Sophomore hitter Madeline Schneider leads the team with 3.10 kps. Freshman libero Madisen Babich is averaging 3.72 digs per set.