As sixth-ranked Hawaii slips into the second season of its return to Big West volleyball tonight, it knows pretty much what it has to do over the next nine weeks.
Win everything in sight, just to have a shot at staying home for the postseason.
The Rainbow Wahine (11-1) opened the season by beating top-ranked, defending national champion Texas. They have won their last nine since falling to now-No. 8 San Diego, a streak that saw them sweep No. 11 UCLA here and outlast No. 23 Creighton in Kansas.
That gives them a chance to be home for an NCAA tournament subregional. For Hawaii, it might be two chances — slim and none — because it has happened just once the past nine years.
If UH loses to a Big West team, it’s likely only basketball will be played in the Stan Sheriff Center in December.
“We needed to sweep the weekend just to stay in the national picture,” UH coach Dave Shoji said even before winning last week’s Shocker Classic. “Because our RPI, once we start the conference, will plummet.”
The Big West has made strides. In the RichKern.com Pablo rankings, which measure last season’s finish and this season’s start, it comes out fifth among the 32 conferences. Hawaii is No. 2 behind Penn State, but the only number that counts is the NCAA’s RPI, which debuts Oct. 7.
UC Davis took out previously ranked Cal last week. Long Beach State beat Illinois and went five with UCLA and Oregon State. Arizona needed five to stifle UC Santa Barbara, in its first season without Kathy Gregory as coach. Cal State Northridge took a set off second-ranked Washington and has received votes in the last four polls — a school record.
The Big West’s preconference record was 64-51, including a combined 18-19 against the Big Ten, Big 12, Mountain West and West Coast. But it was 3-14 against the Pac-12, with UH accounting for two wins.
And, even at a glance, there were too many Winthrops, Central Connecticut States, Louisiana-Monroes, Gardner-Webbs and Coppin States on Big West schedules. Long Beach, picked to finish second by the coaches, fell to Air Force after losing 6-foot-6 all-region player Haleigh Hampton to injury for the second straight year.
The Wahine take an NCAA-best 73-match conference winning streak into tonight’s opener against Cal State Fullerton.
They are going after their 20th overall championship in 29 conference seasons. They have won 92 percent of their conference matches (451-38) since joining the PCAA — precursor to the Big West — in 1985.
That remarkable percentage has to go up. Beating Big West teams won’t help their RPI this year — again — but losing will almost surely kill any chance at a Top 16 seed that would keep them home.
Here are the teams they must beat, in order of the Preseason Coaches Poll:
Long Beach State (7-6)
Is 0-3 against ranked opponents, falling to 11th-ranked UCLA 16-14 in the fifth … Leads BWC and is 32nd nationally in blocking (2.66 per set), with freshman Joy Miley (1.28) and 2012 all-region selection Chisom Okpala (1.13) first and third in conference … Lone senior Delainey Aigner-Swesey has eight double-doubles and is second to Hawaii’s Emily Hartong in kills per set (3.57).
Cal State Northridge (10-3)
Off to its best start since 1986, with all three losses to ranked teams (Creighton, Washington, UCLA) …Junior Natalie Allen hitting .309 and is seventh in kills (3.15), with six double-doubles and the only BWC Player of the Week honor that did not go to a Wahine … Started season with six wins, including sweep of Santa Clara and four consecutive five-setters … Senior Mahina Haina, out of ‘Iolani, needs five kills to become ninth in school history with 1,000 … Only starter not back from team that took UH to five is career dig leader Cindy Ortiz … Second to UH in BWC hitting (.282), assists (12.87) and kills (14.12).
UC Davis (8-5)
Won eight of last 10, including four-set victory over Cal last week … Three losses came in five sets … Senior Lindsay Dowd leads BWC in aces (0.38), junior Victoria Lee is third in hitting (.423) — after Hawaii’s Jade Vorster (.492) and Kalei Adolpho (.426) — and sophomore Kaylin Squyres is fourth in kills (3.37).
UC Irvine (9-5)
Senior Aly Squires (3.39) and sophomore Marissa Bubica (3.18) among top six in conference kills … Leads BWC in aces (1.45) and is second in blocks (2.55), digs (15.91) and opponent hitting (.176) — eight points better than Hawaii.
UC Santa Barbara (5-7)
Opened season getting swept at home by third-ranked Stanford and has played last 11 on the road … beat New Mexico State and lost to Arizona despite holding 14-11 lead in fifth … New coach is Nicole Lantagne Welch … Punahou graduate Ali Santi sharing setting duties …Senior Katey Thompson is fifth in BWC kills (3.29) and seventh in aces (0.32).
Cal State Fullerton (7-5)
Is ninth nationally in digs (17.38), led by freshman McKenna Painton (4.47) … Also leads conference in opponent hitting (.152) … Won six straight before losing three of last four… Junior setter Julie Consani leads BWC in assists (11.10) … Senior Bre Moreland has three double-doubles … Senior Alyse Hensley was MVP of Fullerton Classic and is ninth in kills (3.05) and points (3.58).
Cal Poly (6-7)
Already has two more wins than last season … Plays first home match tonight … Senior Chelsea Hardin, out of ‘Iolani, earned all-tournament honors at Arizona State after collecting career-high 19 kills against Louisiana-Monroe. She is hitting .309. … During five-match losing streak, won just one set against Cal, Kansas State, Santa Clara, Stanford and Arizona State.
UC Riverside (1-11)
Sunday match at Hawaii will be 13th straight on road to open season … Sophomore Ashley Cox (2.94 kps) and freshman Cristina Maietta (2.61) lead offense… First-year coach Michelle Patton took San Francisco State to NCAA DII tournament last year … Only win came against Winthrop … No attackers hitting over .156.
