They ran the gamut when getting ready for practice Wednesday night, from putting on old-school knee pads to the new-school day-glo KT (Kinesiology Therapeutic) tape. But there was­­­ no generation gap when five decades of Hawaii women’s volleyball took to the Klum Gym court in preparation of today’s alumnae matches.

The sport itself bridges that gap, but something more special binds players from that first team in 1974 to the ones who finished their careers last December, and all in between: wearing that Rainbow Wahine uniform.

"It totally crosses all generational lines," said Beth McLachlin, captain of the first team in 1974. "They (the younger players) all know what we’ve done and we know what they’ve done. It’s that common experience that is the glue that holds us all together."

Some of that stickiness was earned in Klum Gym, where standing-room only crowds of 1,800-plus sweated along with the players from 1974 through mid-1994, when the Stan Sheriff Center opened. There were oppressive nights with termite swarms and the morning of a rolling blackout when Hurricane Iwa knocked out the power in 1982.

"It was miserable in there," McLachlin said. "But the fans came anyway. The great support started back then and has continued ever since.

"It’s all about the memories and my best memory is of beating UCLA at Blaisdell (Arena) in 1977. Full house. Donnis (the late UH women’s athletic director Thompson) sold it out, 8,000. It was the largest crowd to watch any sport with women playing for years."

Ever since the 1994 season, Hawaii has led the country in attendance, including an NCAA-record average 8,378 in 1996.

The Sheriff Center sold out (10,300) for what would be Kanani Danielson’s final career match last December. The three-time first-team All-American had 21 kills and 23 digs in Hawaii’s five-set loss to USC in the regional semifinal.

Danielson will be playing in her first alumnae match and "I’m really excited," said Danielson, who leaves for Japan later this month to play professionally. "Not only am I playing with girls that I know, but the amazing ones I watched when growing up.

"We have a great tradition and you can’t even tell anyone’s age because of their ability."

Chanteal Satele (2010-11) also will be playing in her first alumnae match, with mother Lee Ann Pestana Satele (1981-84) to play in the opening alumnae vs. alumnae contest.

"I’m excited to see her play again," Lee Ann said. "She hasn’t played since the SC loss. She’s been finishing school, doing an internship. Yes, there is life after volleyball."

The Sateles are the second mother-daughter duo on the alumnae roster. The first was Joey Akeo Miyashiro (1974-77) and Tehani Miyashiro (1997-98).