One and done.
One and move on.
That’s the reality of the postseason. It’s considered the “second season,” but there are no second chances.
No. 8 Hawaii is well aware of that. The Rainbow Warriors (16-11, 11-11), seeded seventh in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation volleyball tournament, are headed to where many a great Hawaii team has seen its season die: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.
Although the Warriors haven’t been in Westwood for a first-round match since 2004 — the Bruins won in a sweep — Hawaii’s track record against UCLA in the playoffs has been anything but successful.
The Bruins own a 7-1 record over the Warriors, including handing Hawaii a devastating loss in the 1996 NCAA championship final, where the Warriors had match point in Set 4 but lost in five at Pauley. Hawaii’s lone postseason win came in four sets at the Stan Sheriff Center in the first round of 1999; the Warriors were swept the next week at BYU.
But history is not playing on Saturday, not even the latest history between the two teams. On the first weekend in February, Hawaii upset then-No. 1 UCLA in four then couldn’t hold on the next night, falling in five after taking a 2-1 lead.
MPSF VOLLEYBALL
Saturday’s quarterfinal
>> Time: 4 p.m.
>> Who: No. 8 Hawaii (16-11, 11-11) at No. 3 UCLA (23-5, 17-5)
>> TV: None
>> Radio: 1420-AM
>> Video stream: pac-12/live/ucla
>> Series: UCLA leads, 62-27
>> Postseason: UCLA leads, 7-1
“It was a while ago,” Warriors junior Kupono Fey said of the last meeting with UCLA 18 matches ago. “We’re both different teams now.
“I like playing in Pauley and I love our chances.”
The victory over UCLA on Feb. 5 was the only one Hawaii had against the top four teams in the MPSF, all of which are hosting quarterfinals Saturday. Playing at home likely adds an edge “but I don’t think it will surprise anyone if any of the road teams win,” Warriors coach Charlie Wade said.
“The league is so competitive. It wouldn’t be a surprise if (UC) Irvine goes up to BYU and wins. Or Pepperdine at Long Beach (State) … go down the list. With all the stuff going on, you never know.”
That “stuff” includes injuries, the most discussed being that of Stanford senior setter James Shaw, who went out in Set 4 of Saturday’s four-set loss at UC Santa Barbara. The Cardinal, who had a chance to take the MPSF title and top seed with two road wins last week, dropped both, dropped into a three-way tie for second in the standings, then lost the tiebreakers with both UCLA and Long Beach State to end up as the fourth seed.
It was a wild finish in the MPSF’s final week, which began with only Hawaii knowing its seed.
“It was crazy ridiculous,” Warrior assistant coach Joshua Walker said. “I don’t remember that ever being that tight when I played (for UH 2008-2011).
“It’s one of those years where the top eight teams in our league are the top eight teams in the country. Ohio State may be up there (ranked No. 2), but I think any of the top eight in the MPSF can beat Ohio State.”
As for beating UCLA, it would be a milestone for Hawaii. While the Warriors have won their past three regular-season matches in Pauley, Hawaii is 0-7 in first-round road playoff matches, including 2013 where UH nearly became the first eighth seed to beat a No. 1 seed when falling in five at BYU.
“Certainly, it’s better that we’ve had success against them than getting crushed this season,” Wade said of UCLA. “We have guys who are familiar with the venue when we played well there last year. We beat them this year but then they beat us, too.
“For one thing, we’re not taking making the playoffs for granted. It’s an accomplishment for us, something we strive for every year but, with as competitive as our league is, the reality is you’re not always in that position.
“We’re excited to still be playing. There’s some good teams and good players that aren’t.”
The Warriors left this morning and were to get in a practices at UCLA tonight and tomorrow. Hawaii spent much time in its final two home practices working on serve-receive in preparation for the Bruins, who lead the MPSF in aces by a large margin (193 to Long Beach State’s 156).
The MPSF ace leader is UCLA freshman setter Micah Ma’a (54), who is in the running for conference freshman of the year, the award to be announced later today. The Punahou School graduate earned his fourth Off the Block-Springbak Inc. national freshman of the week Tuesday after helping the Bruins to wins over Stanford and Pepperdine.
