San Diego played the part of party crasher to perfection Sunday, halting history and Hawaii’s season-opening volleyball euphoria with one relentless rally. The Toreros, who start all upperclassmen, upset the 11th-ranked Rainbow Wahine 15-25, 26-24, 25-19, 23-25, 15-10 before 5,554 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"This is the biggest win we have had in our program’s history," USD coach Jennifer Petrie said. "I am so proud of our girls. The fact that they were able to come back from the tough loss to Texas the night before, and to turn around and play on that level, is just amazing. And to beat Hawaii in Hawaii is just so amazing."

By the end, there was no doubt who the best team was on the court Sunday, but the Wahine (2-1) won the Chevron Invitational anyway. They shocked NCAA champion Texas in four in Friday’s opener, then swept UTEP.

USD, which lost in five to the top-ranked Longhorns, needed to sweep UH to take the title. After letting a match point get away Saturday against the ‘Horns, the Toreros were happy with what they got, and what they did not allow Hawaii to celebrate.

UH coach Dave Shoji will now have to go a little deeper into his 39th season to become his sport’s winningest coach — and have a firmer grasp on what his 2013 team is all about.

He remained at 1,105 victories— one shy of Andy Banachowski. Shoji’s next chance to tie his old friend comes Thursday against New Mexico State.

History was lost in the Wahine’s frustration Sunday, but they tried to view opening weekend as a whole, which brought some comfort.

"It was a very positive week," Shoji said. "We beat a very good team in Texas and competed hard the third night. We did some really good things. It was disappointing to lose the match, but we’ve got to look at the big picture. We are going to be really good."

That was easier to envision before the second set started against San Diego (2-1), which has gone to 10 NCAA tournaments in Petrie’s 12 full seasons as coach.

Almost everything worked for the Wahine in the opening set, from the middle (10-for-14) to Emily Hartong (7-for-13) outside. UH hit .472 and won in 22 minutes, despite going without a block or a kill from its other left-side hitting position.

Those factors, and another out of their control, would catch up with them.

Sophomore Tai Manu-Olevao, who started on the left side the first two matches, did not play the Sunday match for religious reasons. Ashley Kastl started, but was kill-less with Hawaii trailing 11-7 in the second.

Ginger Long subbed in and went 1-for-11 before Kastl came back with four kills in the fourth.

She finished with five — 25 fewer than Hartong, who was Hawaii’s only offensive threat after the opening set.

"Emotionally, we had a lot of ups and downs," said Hartong, the team captain. "We came out really strong Friday and couldn’t carry that energy through the whole weekend."

The Toreros could. They dug 75 balls, with Hawaii Baptist graduate C’era Oliveira getting 25 — same as UH libero Ali Longo.

They also flaunted a balanced offense and blocked 13 balls. The Wahine managed just six. They went 63 serves without a stuff from the end of the second set to early in the fourth.

Long’s block in the second came in the midst of a 21-11 UH surge that put it ahead 23-20. The Wahine got to match point at 24-22 on Hartong’s 12th kill, only to have the Toreros score the final four points.

"I felt at times everyone was putting their heads down," Hartong said. "When we were down 3-11 (in the third) I think there was kind of a loss of hope from some of the girls. We need to work more on staying together as a team and fighting."

Then she finally forced a smile.

"We got it out of the way (in the) first tournament," she said. "Hope it doesn’t happen again."

San Diego scored seven of the first eight in the third and weathered a late UH run, then proceeded to fall behind 11-3 in the fourth thanks to five hitting errors.

USD made this one close too — closing to 23-22 — behind Sandra Lozic, Alaysia Brown, Katie Hoekman and Chloe Ferrari, who all finished with double-digit kills.

Hawaii won the first point of the final set, but it was taken away due to a lineup discrepancy. It went downhill from there, with USD getting all the separation it needed from an early 6-1 surge.

"It was bittersweet," UH setter Mita Uiato said. "We know how to win big games and we know how to lose big games now. We know how to play against big girls and we’ve got to keep the level the same on our side every night like when we play the No. 1 team."

Shoji admitted to being a "terrible loser," which left him downcast. That won’t last.

"I can also see the positive things," he said. "I think we’ll bounce back and be a good team in the long run."

Notes

In the second year of its contract with the Big West Conference, Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket will offer a live broadcast of Hawaii’s volleyball match at Long Beach State on Oct. 4. It is scheduled for 5 p.m. Hawaii time. The Big West women’s soccer tournament will also be televised.

Former Wahine Aven Lee is now an assistant coach at Nevada. Lee spent the last four years as an assistant at University of the Pacific. She has also been involved with USA Volleyball. Lee played for Hawaii from 1996 to 2000 and coached juniors here before moving to the mainland.