Back in fifth grade at Word of Life Academy, Kanani Danielson and Chanteal Satele played volleyball for their elementary team. While opponents struggled to get the ball over the net, Word of Life would pass, set, hit and even pound overhand serves.

Flash forward to tonight, when Satele and Danielson’s precociousness has paid huge dividends for sixth-ranked Hawaii.

The Rainbow Wahine play their final Western Athletic Conference regular-season match, taking on New Mexico State. UH seniors Alex Griffiths, Danielson and Satele will be honored after.

Hawaii (25-1, 13-0 WAC) has clinched its 16th consecutive WAC regular-season title and the top seed at the conference tournament Thanksgiving week. It has won its last 20, and 54 consecutive WAC regular-season matches, which is the country’s longest active streak.

It is playing to protect its No. 8 power ranking between now and Nov. 27, when the NCAA tournament brackets will be announced. A new rule allows the 16 seeded teams to play at home the first weekend, something the Wahine have not done since 2003.

The Aggies (21-7, 10-3) need a win to clinch the No. 2 WAC seed and that tournament’s other bye. They took Hawaii to five sets a month ago behind freshman Meredith Hays, who leads the WAC with nearly 41⁄2 kills a set. New Mexico State’s national power rating is 66th, with the next-best WAC team being Idaho at No. 105.

"We learned the first time that physically we can compete with Hawaii, no question," Aggies coach Mike Jordan said. "We have kids who can get kills. We played good defense. I didn’t think we were great, but we played good, solid volleyball for long stretches."

And then, the Aggies did not. They scored the first two points of the decisive fifth set, then lost 13 of the next 14, with Mita Uiato serving 10 straight for UH. Jordan, whose teams have 20 wins nine of the past 10 seasons, recalls each one in excruciating detail.

"We miss a couple defensive assignments, make a hitting error, get called for a double-hit," he said. "All of a sudden we are a high-error volleyball team again. Inconsistency has plagued us a couple of times, obviously.

"The great part about where we are right now is this team completely understands what it has to do to be successful — the one glaring weakness we have to avoid. Hopefully we can avoid that Saturday."

Hawaii has also been plagued by "high-error" periods, which often start with passing problems. Ballhandling is a crucial focus tonight for both teams — just after composure for UH.

"Senior night is always tough because you’re thinking about after the match and you should be thinking about the match," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "It’s an emotional night. We have to focus on New Mexico State. The players understand the match is very important to the team."

But after, there will be a celebration for three very popular seniors. Griffiths averaged five digs a set for Vanguard University before coming here for two years to play at the highest level. Satele transferred home last year after helping Saint Mary’s make its mark nationally. Danielson, a three-time All-American, might be the most versatile player in Wahine history.

Griffiths’ coaches appreciate her tenacity and the guts it took to give up what she had to help Hawaii’s program with her back-row skills and amiable personality. In turn, Griffiths will miss the "heart and passion for the sport" Satele and Danielson bring, along with Satele’s "iron arm" and Danielson’s "miracle plays."

UH assistant coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos puts it a bit differently.

"Kanani is such an all around player, it will definitely be hard to replace her," she said. "Usually you will get an outside hitter who can just go up and bang balls, but is not so good in passing and defense. Those kinds of players are rare and come around only once in a while.

"As for Chanteal, I think the team will miss her fighting attitude. She has been in and out of the lineup a lot, and not once has she ever just backed down. Oh, and not to mention that she can hit the crap out of the ball."

All-America middle blocker Brittany Hewitt, who didn’t play Thursday because of stomach problems, made it through practice Friday and is expected to be available for UH tonight.