There’s a University of Hawaii athletic team with an 18-3 record that is unbeaten as the visiting team and is one of six schools remaining to compete for a Division I national championship.

Coach Scott Wong’s sand volleyball team joins USC, Pepperdine, Florida State, Florida International and Stetson at the AVCA Nationals in Gulf Shores, Ala., with its first match Friday against FIU.

This is some much-needed good news for UH sports, considering the hard times many of Manoa’s teams in various sports have suffered recently.

Wong isn’t letting it bother him or the team that the Golden Panthers could take a bus from their school to the tournament.

"Everyone’s on the road," Wong said. "We’re just a couple thousand more miles away from home."

Brittany Tiegs, who is paired at No. 1 with Karissa Cook, has some familiarity with the Gulf Shores sand, since she helped Florida State to the finals there in 2012 as the Seminoles went 15-0 in the first regular season of the sport, before she transferred to UH.

The SandBows have improved dramatically from 2012, when they went 4-6, and last year’s 6-7 mark.

Wong said corporate sponsorship has helped UH host tournaments at Queen’s Beach and fill out the schedule, as did a Portuguese Horseshoes fundraising event that brought in $70,000.

But having a 13-day break now before the national championships is "perfect."

"A longer season would be better, let the fans get to know us. With a nine-week season it’s a small window and it’s a grind," said Wong, noting that the season could expand as sand volleyball gains full NCAA status. "But we needed a break and it came at the right time. We’re able to rest up, take care of school and gear up for this road test."

Recuperation is especially important for those players doubling up on indoor volleyball.

"It’s a tough time for these kids," said Wong, who is also an assistant for Dave Shoji’s indoor team. "Spring practice for indoor is important, but they can’t do both, we have to limit their hours. We have to keep them fresh, don’t get them injured and make sure they have time for their schoolwork."

Nikki Taylor and Ginger Long have performed well on the sand and managed their time well. Wong said the demanding schedule could pay benefits, not only on the sand in the nationals this week, but also in the fall on the hard courts.

"The continuity is nice, and it helps the overall development of the players," he said. "Emily Hartong is a good example. That first year of sand helped her become a better all-around player and, combined with her work ethic and talent, eased her transition from middle (to outside hitter) in indoor, and she became an All-American."

There’s nowhere to hide on the sand with just two players compared to six.

"It’s definitely a lot tougher because they’ve got to be able to do every skill. It tests your limits, physical and mental," he said. "You’re on an island with your partner. If you have any weaknesses your opponent will exploit it."

So far this spring, the SandBows have most often been the ones doing the exploiting.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. Read his blog at staradvertiser.com/quickreads.