In a word: “remarkable.”

That’s how retired Hawaii coach Dave Shoji looks at today’s finale of the 24th Outrigger Volleyball Challenge. When Hawaii takes on San Diego State at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center, it is more than the Rainbow Wahine’s proud volleyball history that will be on display.

It will be volleyball history. Period.

For the first time two female head coaches from the same alma mater who both were Olympians will be shaking hands when meeting at center court prior to the first whistle. It is Hawaii’s Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (1993-96), a three-time Olympian and two-time All-American, against San Diego State’s Deitre Collins-Parker (1980-83), a three-time All-American who played in the 1988 Olympics and was an alternate in 1992.

“It is remarkable that two players from the same school can go to the Olympics, then go on to become head coaches in Division I,” said Shoji, who retired after the 2016 season, his 42nd at Hawaii. “Then they have their teams meet years later.”

“It’s awesome,” said Collins-Parker, one of six players named to the NCAA’s 25th anniversary team that had Shoji as the coach. “I know that Robyn feels the same way. There is nothing like having played for Hawaii. It is who I am. I love bringing my teams there. They haven’t always performed well, but they get to experience what I did, how much the people in Hawaii love the sport and love the Wahine.”

Collins-Parker, in her 10th year with San Diego State, said she continues to be amazed that she still is remembered … in Hawaii and elsewhere.

“I’ll have young football players at San Diego State who are from Hawaii come up to talk to me,” she said. “They tell me their parents watched me. There’s nothing like it.”

There’s something else that Collins-Parker shares with Ah Mow-Santos. That of the disadvantage of being in a mid-major conference, SDSU in the Mountain West, Hawaii in the Big West.

“Recruiting is unbelievably hard without the money in the Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC,” Collins-Parker said. “You can’t match that. We have very good academic programs at San Diego State, so does Hawaii, but it’s hard to pull one of those top recruits away from a UCLA, a USC, a Penn State. Kids are choosing the big names and/or the high academics.

“I admire Robyn for taking that job. It would be so hard for anyone to follow Dave. Period. The volleyball world has changed so much since we were playing. I hope the people in Hawaii recognize that and be patient.

“The difference between us is even though Hawaii is in a mid-major conference, it isn’t volleyball-wise. They built a culture a long time ago and whether it’s an up or down year, Hawaii is a respected program and always will be.”

Collins-Parker has yet to defeat her alma mater. She was 0-6 in eight seasons at UNLV and 0-4 with San Diego State.

Parker-Collins was able to attend the premiere of “The Rise of the Wahine, Champions of Title IX” on Wednesday at the Hawaii Theatre. She was among the featured players interviewed for the film that chronicled the history between the Wahine program and the landmark legislation that has impacted college athletics.

She will be unable to compete in Friday’s alumnae match prior to Hawaii’s match with No. 18 Oregon but will be part of today’s preview. Consider this: Two of the Wahine’s best middle blockers in program history are in the arena.

Collins-Parker, who helped Hawaii win NCAA titles in 1982 and ’83, still holds the record for most solo blocks in one NCAA tournament (15 in 1982, when there were only four tourney matches as opposed to six now). The two-time Broderick Award winner as the best player in women’s college volleyball also holds the Wahine program mark for most solo blocks in a single season (80 in 82 sets in 1983).

On the opposing bench is Wahine assistant Angelica Ljungqvist, Hawaii’s first four-time All-America honoree and the 1996 AVCA national player of the year. She holds the Wahine single-season records for block assists (201, 1996) and total blocks (236, 1996).

PORTLAND 3, IDAHO 0

Senior hitter Reghan Pukis made a strong case for the most outstanding player award, putting down 15 kills to help the Pilots (9-0) claim the tournament title, 25-18, 25-19, 25-15. Sophomore libero Carey Williams (Kahuku) added 17 digs to finish the tournament with 60 and junior middle Shayla Hoeft (Seabury Hall) had 10 kills.

Senior outside Reece Carman had 14 kills to lead the Vandals (5-4), who finished in third place. Senior libero Alycia Wodke had 11 digs, finishing with 66 in three matches.