The NCAA pocketed nearly $300,000 after expenses from the return of the Division I women’s volleyball championships to the Stan Sheriff Center last month.

But despite financial returns and fan support that University of Hawaii coach Dave Shoji calls "eye-opening," the numbers guarantee the Rainbow Wahine nothing in coming years, officials said.

"If there are great attendance numbers, that’s a good thing, but it doesn’t necessarily put them ahead of anyone else for future years," said Cameron Schuh, NCAA associate director for public and media relations. "Like we say with every site and every championship, each bid is reviewed on its merits on a case-by-case basis, " Schuh said.

If the NCAA awarded a trophy for fan turnout at its championships in 2011, UH would have won it going away. The NCAA said UH had a combined turnout of 16,478 for the first and second rounds, which not only led the 16-site field but nearly doubled that of second-place Nebraska’s 8,353.

For the regionals, UH’s 19,746 topped the four sites. Florida’s 7,026 was second.

The combination in Manoa produced $295,630 for the NCAA after expenses, while UH retained $52,170 as its share, said Carl Clapp, UH associate athletic director.

The NCAA declined to disclose receipts for other sites.

UH hadn’t hosted first- and second-round matches since 2003 and had not been given a regional since 2006. But athletic director Jim Donovan said, "It is not a surprise to me that we did very well because we lead the country in (regular-season) attendance and have great support for the sport in our state."

Shoji said, "This is what we’ve been saying for years: that we would draw well in any kind of a playoff situation and the fans supported us this year like I think we all knew they would. The numbers are pretty revealing."

UH hosted the first and second rounds by being seeded in the top 16 and meeting bid specifications. It secured the Dec. 8-11 regional by a bid awarded two years in advance and doesn’t know when it might get either opportunity again.

Regional sites have already been set for 2012 though 2014, said Marilyn Moniz-Kaho‘ohanohano, UH associate athletic director, who said, "We will bid for 2015 and on. We always bid for NCAA first/second rounds."

Shoji said, "The first and second round certainly had to have opened some eyes, but now it is really mandated that if you are in the top 16 you are going to host, so I don’t know if (UH’s numbers) make any difference. We need to be in the top 16 otherwise I don’t think they will give it to us. As far as regionals, I think they have to look at us in the future."

Diane Turnham, head of the NCAA selection committee, did not return phone calls seeking comment.