Seven percent. That’s how many Division I women’s volleyball head coaches have stayed at one university more than 15 years.

As rare as it among the 332 programs nationally, rarer still is to have two facing each other across the net. It happens at this week’s Hawaiian Airlines Classic with Hawaii’s Dave Shoji in his 40th season and St. John’s Joanne Persico in her 21st.

While the Rainbow Wahine existed for one season without Shoji — the coach for the inaugural season in 1974 was the late Alan Kang — Persico founded the Red Storm back in 1994, coincidently the same year the school changed its nickname from the Redmen.

Persico has two other things in common with Shoji. Both were college setters — Shoji at UC Santa Barbara, Persico at Syracuse, where she was the Big East Player of the Year as a senior in 1986.

The other? An appreciation for 50th state volleyball players.

Persico has come to Hawaii the past 19 years as one of the coaches at the prep volleyball combine; players following her back to New York City include Patti Hardimon (Moanalua), Rosalyn Dang (Punahou), Lena Yee (Moanalua) and two current players Shawna-Lei Santos and Nikki Sen, both out of Sacred Hearts.

This trip is different for Persico in that she has brought her team for the first time. The trip has included visitor activities such as the Aloha Stadium swap meet, a luau and a catamaran sail.

Starting Thursday, it’s all business.

"We know we’re going to play a higher caliber of volleyball for three nights, or days, I don’t have a watch," said Persico, who has 5 p.m. matches with No. 22 Oregon Thursday and New Mexico Friday, followed by a noon contest with No. 20 Hawaii. "We’re here to show them what it will take to win a championship in the Big East, get back to the NCAA tournament.

"We’re really excited to be here. I admire Dave so much, he’s built such a brand here. We’re excited to be part of his 40th season and to play in, what I believe, is the best volleyball stadium in the country."

Santos said she’s told her teammates about the Stan Sheriff Center, where she watched as a young fan.

"I told them the crowd can be overwhelming, the noise and the excitement are factors teams struggle with," Santos said. "But I’ve told them also how the fans are very supportive, they know good volleyball and appreciate the play on both sides.

"The key is to not get too excited."

It might be hard for Santos, who played for Shoji and associate head coach Scott Wong while with the Ime Ike Volleyball Club. Her teammates included current Wahine players Tai Manu-Olevao, Tayler Higgins and Nikki Taylor.

"It’s going to be fun seeing friends across the net," Santos said. "It’s going to be good competition against old friends."

Hawaii (2-1)

The Rainbow Wahine have a sweep of Ohio and a 3-1 win over San Diego State sandwiching a 3-0 loss to No. 25 Arizona State.

Still rehabbing from an hyper-extended elbow is sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor, who was cleared on Tuesday to practice on a limited basis.

Freshman hitter Kalei Greeley made her first start against San Diego State and put down 15 kills. She is second on the team in kills (22), behind junior middle Olivia Magill (25); Magill also leads the team in blocks (11).

Shoji continues to tinker with the lineup, considering various options among his outside hitters. Expected to again start are sophomore setter Tayler Higgins, senior libero Sarah Mendoza, and middles Kalei Adolpho and Magill.

New Mexico (2-1)

The Lobos, picked to finish second in the Mountain West, swept Seattle and UTEP before falling in straight sets to No. 2 Texas in their Lobo Classic. Named to the all-tournament team were right-side hitter Chantale Riddle, the MWC preseason player of the year and UNM’s lone senior, and junior middle Simone Henderson, a JC transfer from Grossmont (Calif.) College.

Campbell High product Ashley Kelsey has redshirted the past two years, both times due to a torn ACL. She leads the team in digs with 34 in three matches.

The Lobos are 0-8 against the Wahine.

Oregon (3-0)

The Ducks won the Oregon Invitational, sweeping Ohio State and Central Arkansas and pulling out a 3-2 victory over Illinois State.

Oregon, which made it to its first NCAA championship final in 2012, are picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12

Leading the Ducks is senior hitter Liz Brenner, a six-rotation player who had 39 kills and 42 digs last week.

Brenner was named to the all-tournament team along with MVP Martenne Bettendorf, a junior hitter, and sophomore libero Amanda Benson.

Kamehameha product Chelsey Keoho, a junior libero, hasn’t played this season.

The Ducks are 1-7 against the Wahine, the only win coming in the first round of the 1984 NCAA tournament when Oregon eliminated the two-time defending national champions.

St. John’s (4-0)

The Red Storm won the Bryant Hampton Invitational, dropping one set in three matches, with wins over Army, UMass-Lowell and host Bryant. St. John’s got in a home match Monday, sweeping St. Peter’s, before getting on a plane Monday.

The Red Storm are hitting .351, led by Karin Palgutova’s .436. The junior hitter was named the Big East Player of the Week, picking up her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 16 digs against Army.

Palgutova and junior hitter Shawna-Lei Santos (Sacred Hearts) were named to the all-tournament team.